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MARIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS:
FOUNDRESS OF THE
HOUSE OF LA MISEMCORDE, AT BOUEDEAUX.
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MARIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS:
FOUNDRESS OF THE
HOUSE OF LA MISfiRICORDE, AT BOURDEAUL
A BIOGBAPHY,
ABRIDGED FROM THE FRENOH.
*' BY THE
AUTHOR OF * THE HEIR OF REDCLTFFE:
LONDON:
JOHN W. PARKER AND SON, WEST STRAND.
1858.
m £ 3 7 t £" ^^ . izedbyC
* , ~ /
/, ?s>
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PREFACE.
The substance of this little book is taken from
the detailed Vie de Mademoiselle de Lamourous, dite
la bonne Mtre, by M. L* Abb6 Pouget, a narrative ill
arranged, but of great interest. It has been found
so useful to those engaged in. tasks similar to that
of Mademoiselle de Laniburous, that it has been
thought that .her history might be welcome in an
English form. The proceeds of the publication
will be devoted to two institutions of the same class.
July and, 1858.
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CONTENTS.
PAGK
Chapter I.
Childhood 9
Chapter II.
The Bevolution 22
Chapter III.
The Appointed Task 33
Chapter IV.
The House in les Allies d'Albret . . . . 47
Chapter V.
The Convent . . . . . . . -59
Chapter VI.
The Journey to Paris 69
Chapter VII.
The Return 84
Chapter VEIL
Rules of La Mis£ricorde 97
Chapter IX.
La bonne M5re in her bed room . . .111
Chapter X.
Death of La bonne M&re 123
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MARIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS.
CHAPTER I.
CHILDHOOD.
Why should we fear youth's draught of joy
If pure would sparkle less ?
The character of which we are about to offer
a sketch is one essentially French in all its qualities,
both of nobleness and simplicity, and presents a
striking instance of the fruits of patient individual
exertions, when directed to one object with a steady
aim, and a spirit full of that love which conquers all
things.
The generalization necessary in writing history
has led to the laying down of strong and harsh
outlines in describing whole classes together, and
this above all with the French, who so much de-
light in consistent theory and defined rules, and
never willingly allow for inconvenient exceptions.
Thus, the popular idea of France before the Great
.Revolution masses the inhabitants together, as a
miserable oppressed peasantry, and a corrupt infidel
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IO MARIE THERESE DE LAM0UR0U8.
nobility, impoverishing their vassals, in order to shine
at Paris, or if resident upon their estates, meriting
their epithet of hobereaux or kites, by their petty
exactions upon their unfortunate neighbours. There
is doubtless much truth in this bird's-eye view, and
it is not till we begin to descend to details, and to
look into biography, that we discover how many
peasants lived in peace and prosperity, how many
nobles were models of religious loyalty, and how
many of the country noblesse were scattered through-
out France, not far removed in education and habits
from the English squire of the same date, though
unfortunately for themselves and their country, de-
prived of all political influence, and exempt from
ordinary taxation.
To a family of this class belonged the subject
of our present memoir, Marie ThGrese Charlotte de
Lamourous, born at Barsac on the 1st of November,
1754. Her father, Louis Marc Antoine Jean de La*
mourous, was an untitled noble in the south of France,
possessing some landed property both at Barsac and
Le Pian, and a town house at Bourdeaux. He seems
to have been an amiable and good man, but nothing
marked is recorded respecting him. His wife, Eliza-
beth de Vincent, was a woman of great piety and
good sense, devoting much time and thought to her
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HOME AT BAB0AO. II
children, of whom four, three daughters and a son,
survived infancy.
Of these Marie Th&Sse was the eldest. She
was an exceedingly small and delicate child, without
beauty of feature or form ; nay, it is even said, almost
with the appearance of deformity, though better
health remedied this defect in after life; and her
expression from earliest childhood had Buch sweetness
that it seems to have won all hearts, and, indeed,
her portraits have' something so engaging in the
happy smile of the mouth, and the gentleness of
the eye, that they fully bear out what is said of her
attractiveness.
Perhaps this delicacy of health assisted to make
the little Marie Thlr&se one of those thoughtful
children whose sayings and doings become impressed
upon the mind of their elders ; a lady once con-
soled her mother when the little girl was dangerously
ill, by saying, 'Your child will certainly recover,
God has great designs for her.'
The household at Barsao was a patriarchal one,
where the married retainers lived on with their
whole families, and the good Madame de Lamourous
sat like the ladies of old, with her little daughters
round her, sending them out on messages of kind-
ness to the dependents, to carry dainties to anyone
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I£ MARIE THERESE DE LAM0UR0US.
who was ill, or to hush a fretful infant if the mother
were busy on some domestic office. It would seem
that the doors were kept continually open, for a
story is told of The*rese going into the talon in
the dark, and seeing something incomprehensible
and alarming ; whereupon she followed her mother's
advice, to investigate any such strange object by the
touch, and thus caught hold of the beard of a Ca-
puchin friar, who had chosen this place for repeating
his evening devotions, and was as much terrified as
the little maiden, at the small hand suddenly grasp-
ing him.
The children's nurse was a person of great piety,
setting them one of those examples which train so
much better than any precept. She was a com-
municant at all the greater festivals, and, during the
preceding day she would check any tendency to gid-
diness or unruliness among her charges by saying
entreatingly, 'My dears, you must not vex your
nurse, it will be her good day to-morrow V — and
thus the holy peace and reverence of her own mind
were in some measure imparted to her nursery.
On the great day, they admired the peculiar dress
of her native Saintonge, which she wore in full
costume, and they went with her to mass, where
they were silent spectators while their elders commu-
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CHILDISH PENANCE. 1 3
nicated, and on going home, still deemed themselves
bound to be good, so as not to disturb what was so
truly a holy day to their nurse.
Surely this might in some degree be a hint to
us, — the yet unconfirmed might thus respect their
parents' and nurses' preparation for the feast, and be
thus trained to look forward to their own partici-
pation therein.
It is curious to find how little resemblance there
is between a religious childhood in France and in
England. The child, though full of life and spirits,
and with a peculiar French liveliness and blitheness,
was taught to regard mortification as one of the great-
est merits, denying herself her favourite dishes, and
rising in the night for self-imposed penances. As
to contradictions from without, the little girl made
a sort of compact which she pronounced before the
crucifix — ' Three crosses a-day I promise to bear
without crying, but if more come, I cannot answer
for myself; ' and accordingly she thought herself at
liberty to shed as many tears as she pleased when it
came to the fourth grievance.
The popular notion of purgatory was not that of
Bishop Latimer when he said ' he had liefer be there
than in Lollard's Tower, for there the devil could not
come at him, nor he fall from the love of God;' and
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14 marie therese de lamourous.
poor little Th6r£se is said to have lived in the belief
that she should certainly be condemned to the place
of penance if she indulged herself in smelling flowers ;
a fancy at which she learnt to laugh in after years,
but which shows the petty superstitions which, in
practice, Romanism produced among the uneducated
and childish. Half in sport, half in the spirit of ' en-
acting holy rites/ the little maid loved to hide herself
in the vineyards, and imagine herself a hermit ; and
she used to laugh as she related that she thought it
quite in character to taste the grapes which clustered
round her.
At eleven years old she was admitted to her
first Communion, a stage in the life of a French child
answering to the step which confirmation makes
with us. Confirmation is in her Church usually
administered at seven years old, and thus is not con-
sidered as admittance to the privileges of a grown-
up Christian, until the child be old enough and
serious enough to become a communicant. Ther&se
received her first Communion on Ascension Day,
with much fear and trembling, and yet with great
eagerness and love, well according with the pe-
culiar innocence and affection of her nature. Rome
leads her children to behold and adore at the daily
celebration, rather than themselves to become fre-
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DAYS AT BOURDEAUX. 1 5
quent partakers ; and, therefore, it is mentioned as
a remarkable trait, that a sadden impulse one day
seized ThSrese when at church with her mother*
and she stept forward, knelt down, and communi-
cated. ' I asked myself why I should not,' she
said. ' I knew that sin alone should keep me aloof;
and as I did not see in myself any such sin, I
thought I might yield to the longing which drew
me on.'
Mixture as she was of devotion and joyousness,
she regarded the Sunday festival as the crowning
bliss of the week, enhancing all other delights, even
the most trifling ones. ' We were very fond of
dancing/ she used to say when in her old age she
would talk of these happy days ; ' and to supply the
place of a gentleman, one of us would wear a bow
of rose-coloured ribbon in her hair. Often in the
midst of our sports we would recollect that we had
a prayer still to be said ; then we would break off
for our devotions, and these over, resume our game.
Sometimes in the midst of a country dance, I would
bethink me that I should communicate the next
day, and that made me dance on with redoubled joy.'
This would appear levity and irreverence to an
English mind, but with Th6rese, dancing was as
natural and ready an expression of happiness as
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1 6 MARIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS.
'with Dante's beatified spirits, all adoration and mea-
sured movement.
These happy scenes took place at Bourdeaux,
-whither the Lamourons family had removed when
Th6rese was in her twelfth year, 4nd she and her
sisters formed a little society with the daughters of
two ladies of rank there resident and very intimate
with Madame de Lamourous. The children met
every Sunday after the service, and several times in
the course of the week, and enjoyed themselves to-
gether under the eye of the three mothers, who
were so much noted for their piety that the Bor-
delois were wont to call them the three Maries.
Madame de Lamourous was a most devoted
mother, and instructed her children herself. Th6-
rese seems to have been well taught all the acquire-
ments then desirable for a French demoiselle de
quality with a somewhat unusual amount of practical
knowledge, a good deal of arithmetic, which after-
wards proved useful to her, and some knowledge of
the theory of agriculture; while she was an excellent
needlewoman, and even when almost an infant,
made doll's clothes, which she tenderly preserved to
the end of her life as memorials of her happy home
and her mother. Her manners are said to have
been perfect, with all the ease and air of distinction
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MADAME DE LAMOtJBOUS. 1 7
befitting her birth; they had a frank simplicity and
openness all her own, springing from her gladsome
temperament and warm unselfish heart; and they
seem to have had a fascination which no one could
withstand, though she was far from beautiful, and
her speech partook of the homely dialect of her
native province.
The mother and daughter lived in the utmost
confidence, and, after the rest of the family had gone
to bed, they would sit together consulting and
talking over the events and feelings of the day;
Therese wrote out her confessions and submitted
them to her mother, before laying them before the
priest ; and Madame de Lamourous made her young
daughter her chief confidante, and would fain have
dispensed with the old-fashioned forms of filial re*
spect, which were already becoming antiquated,
* Will you never forget that I am your mother ? *
she said, as her daughter persisted in rising from
her seat when she entered the room.
The good lady held all works of fiction in great
horror. The cumbrous romances of chivalrous ad-
venture had given place to novels of sentiment, and
it has almost always been the bane of French tales
of this kind that they turn not upon pure and lawful
love, but upon unlawful passion and intrigue; so
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1 8 MARIE THERESE DE LAMOUROtJS.
that a carefully educated girl is almost invariably
forbidden to touch them, though in after years
ladies generally make up for the previous inter-
diction. We find Madame de Genlis recommending
that La Princeue de Oleves, and some others of
the least objectionable, should, contrary to the usual
practice, be read at so early an age that the senti-
ments should not meet with much sympathy, so that
the young woman might not be tempted into read-
ing them, for the sake of not being behindhand with
the world, at a time when they might become more
likely to meet with a response in her own breast.
Madame de Lamourous thought otherwise, and de-
nounced the whole class without exception, telling
her daughters that such books would teach them no
longer to love God, their mother, their prayers,
nor solid reading. A vivacious young lady whom
The'rfese met in society distressed her exceedingly by
laughing at her renunciation of all such works, and
declaring decidedly ' You will read them I You will
read them!' The'r&se accepted the prediction as a
fete, with all the direful consequences foretold by her
mother, and went home in great trouble, which she
poured out as usual in the evening conference.
' Be comforted, my child I ' said Madame de Lamou-
rous. ' You trust me, do you not? Well, I pro-
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BULES FOB THE TOILETTE. ig
mise you that you will never, read a novel in your
life.' There's simple mind was relieved, and her
mother's prophecy was accomplished. In all the
eighty-two years of her life, ahe never touched a
novel, except once, and then as soon as she read the
title page, she laid it down again. Perhaps this
freedom from all imaginary excitement and dissi-
pation of mind, contributed to maintain in her that
freshness of heart and feeling which so much aided
her success in the great task of her life.
Another of her youthful troubles was with regard
to her dress. She was never vain, but her conscience
was uneasy at her own scrupulous and fastidious
taste, and love of neatness and elegance, and she ap-
pealed to her confessor to know whether such pre-
dilections were sinful. He gave her an admirable
rule, of universal application — ' Do not be one of
the first to adopt a fashion, neither be one of
the last, nor wait to take it up till it be over.
Let your dress be just what is least liable to re-
mark. Thus, after dressing, consult your glass, and
ask yourself, ' When I pass by, will people say how
well she looks ? ' If so, you must suppose there is
something superfluous, and remove it ; but if, on the
other hand, people would exclaim 'How careless!'
something must be wanting. If they are likely to
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20 MAEIE TH^R^SE DE LAM0UE0U8.
notice nothing, either for praise or blame, that is
the point to be gained by one who seeks to please
God.'
Th6rdse went into society with her mother, bnt
was happier with a few friends, when her natural
cheerfulness had freer scope. Her sisters, Mar-
guerite, Aimge, and Catherine, were early married,
but she remained apparently unsought, and thankful
to be left to devote herself to her parents. Her
mother, however, fell dangerously ill, and finding
herself sinking, told Th£r&se that her greatest grief
was the fear that her beloved child would sorrow
too much, and refuse comfort* 'Your pardon,
mamma, 1 replied ThSrfcse, only anxious to cheer her,
• I vriU be comforted.'
* You promise me ? '
' Yes, mamina, be easy about me ; I will take
comfort— I will have courage, I promise you.'
She did her utmost to keep her promise, but her
bodily powers were not sufficient to endure the re-
straint she had laid on them ; she was dangerously
ill for some days after her mother's death, and when
she began to recover, she could not check such a
flow of tears that she used afterwards to declare that
she had spent them all; and in fact she was scarcely
ever again seen to weep. Her bright spirits, how-
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PROHIBITION AGAINST ENTERING A CONVENT. 21
ever, resumed their usual tone, but she became very
anxious to enter a convent, and devote herself solely
to a religious life. The priest whom she consulted,
after examining her state of mind carefully, told
her, to her great surprise and disappointment, that
she had not sufficient vocation for a monastic life ;
and she submitted to his decision, most fortunately
as after events proved, giving herself up to the care
of her aged father, and to various amiable offices of
kindness to her sisters and other relatives.
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CHAPTER II.
THE REVOLUTION.
' And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of
that which is good ? '
Madame de Lamourous had been taken away
from the evil to come. The Revolution broke out soon
after her death, and the Gironde, or country about the
mouth of the Garonne, contributed members to the
Convention of such talent and violence that the name
of their district was conferred upon their whole party.
Bourdeaux fell under the dominion of a committee,
which brought the Reign of Terror thither in full
force, and was presided over by a schoolmaster named
Lacombe, who was at once judge and accuser, while
he enriched himself by the spoils of his victims. When
brought before him, the accused were silenced by
his harshly exclaiming — ' The tribunal has decided ! '
and sending them, sometimes thirty at a time, to
the guillotine. The prisons were full, and no one's
life was safe.
The Lamourous family, loyal and religious,
were forced to disperse when the storm began to
gather. The son went to America, where he died,
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LE PIAN. 23
one of the sons-in-law fled to Spain, and ThGrfcse
removed her father to a small estate of the family
at the village of Le Pian, where her sister Mar-
guerite, who had married a surgeon named Letu,
was already settled.
Le Pian is on the left bank of the Garonne,
about four leagues from Bourdeaux, the towers and
steeples of which city are discernible from the upper
story of the small old family mansion of theLamourous.
This, however, was not the abode of Marie The*rese.
The shepherd's cottage had fallen to her lot in one of
those divisions of landed property which take place
according to French law ; and this became her resi-
dence and that of her father, though consisting of
no more than four rooms, all on the ground floor,
besides a little closet which she set apart as an
oratory.
Dextrous and tasteful, it is easy to perceive how
she rendered the hut a comfortable home for the
old man, and contrived to surround him with all
the little luxuries that might reconcile him to the
loss of his city abode. Outside the cottage, the
scene was beautiful ; a huge oak stood close beside it,
sheltering a clear spring of water, slightly impreg-
nated with iron, and still called by the Pianois ' La
Fontaine de Mamizelle.' It is the source of a
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24 MARIE THEBESE DE LAMOUROUS.
streamlet, which finds its way to the Garonne, after
watering a pretty shady garden, whence there is a
view of the estuary, covered with shipping, and
enclosed between banks clothed with vineyards and
thickets of copsewood ; while towards the west, the
landet stretch away till they are confounded in the
horizon with the Bay of Biscay.
A few cottages were scattered on the banks of
the river, and a little church was near at hand, but
this was in the charge of one of the clergy who had
taken the oaths to the new Constitution, and was
therefore avoided by all the loyal and faithful.
The villagers were an ignorant and simple race,
entirely led by their seigneur, and above all by
Mamizelle, whom they revered as a saint for her un-
wearied kind offices. She did her best to make up for
the want of all spiritual aid ; and causing a clearing to
be made in the midst of a wood belonging to her
family, she invited the women and children of the
neighbourhood to meet her there every Sunday ; and
there, in the 'good greenwood,' taught them the
essentials of religious knowledge, bringing some of
them home afterwards to sing vespers with her in
her little oratory. A Huguenot gentleman, who
likewise tried to prevent all religion from being
forgotten, used to teach the little peasants the cate-
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THE ORATORY. Z$
chism till he came to the controverted points, and
then say — ' Now, children, go to Mademoiselle de
Lamonrous ! ' In all cases of illness she came to
the bedside to pray with the sick, and to lead their
minds to spiritual communion, though they were
deprived of the actual reception of the parting rites
of their church. So much did the peasantry learn
to depend upon her, that, after the concordat had
restored their clergy, she had much difficulty in
breaking them of sending for Mamizelle instead of
a priest to bless their dying beds. The Constitutional
priest was a man of mild disposition, who had
yielded chiefly through weakness, and who vene-
rated Mademoiselle de Lamourous so much that he
begged permission to visit her, thanked her for
the care she took of the flock which disowned
him, and told her how much he regretted the step
which he had taken. Suspecting that poverty might
have been the cause of his compliance, she made a
friend write to him to promise that, if he would ab-
jure his unfortunate oath, a provision should be
made for his maintenance, concealing her name;
but it is not known whether the offer was accepted.
The oratory had been fitted up by Ther&e with
all the furniture of the altar, books, tapers, hang-
ings, and vessels ; and when months elapsed without
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26 MARIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS.
the sight of a priest, she used to shut herself up
there on each Saturday evening, and make the
image of St. Vincent de Paul her confessor, kneel-
ing before him, and avowing her faults to him,
brought up, as she had been, to think a formal con-
fession to a priest indispensable. On the next day
she went through all the devotions of spiritual com-
munion, and received great consolation in the trust
that grace was thus poured into her heart.
Sometimes she had the solace of sheltering one
of the proscribed priests, and having mass cele-
brated in her chapel. Another lady, who lived
not far off, shared the same feelings, and intelligence
was sent from one to the other whenever a priest
arrived at either house, when, even in the middle of
the night, these brave women did not hesitate to
traverse the woods that lay between them, in order
to participate in the secret worship. A faithful
villager would sometimes act as escort, but Made-
moiselle de Lamourous did not hesitate to go alone
on her errands of piety or of charity. Once, when
returning from some work of mercy, she was over-
taken by darkness in a place reported to be the
haunt of wolves ; but, as she afterwards described
the adventure, she thought of her guardian angel,
and remembered that wolves were said to be afraid
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SINGING TO THE WOLVES. 2J
of the human voice ; and so, in her own simple
words, 'With my little bundle on my head, my
hand in my good angel's, and singing a hymn, I
came safely through.'
A Carmelite monk, whom she visited in prison
just before his execution, told her as his last ex-
hortation to serve God as a man rather than as a
woman. The counsel was hardly needed; for,
though her courage was unflinching, it was essen-
tially feminine in quality, a childlike trust always
sustaining her mind, and cheerful address and ready
tact bearing her through all perils. She was one
who could always disarm the wolves by singing
to them.
One Sunday evening, when she had been re-
peating her rosary at the foot of the large crucifix
at the entrance of the village, she saw two ruffianly-
looking men evidently on the watch for her. She
went at once towards them and accosted them in a
friendly tone. ' Good evening, citoyens 1 You look
tired ; you are welcome to come and rest in my
house, I have some good wine for you.'
' So much the better, citoyenne, we were on the
way to you,' they answered. And, concealing her
alarm, she led them in and feasted them so much to
their satisfaction, that, after some consultation, one
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28 marie th£r£se de lamoubous.
of them said, ' Citoyenne! do yon know what brings
us here?'
' No ; perhaps yon are in qnest of employment ?'
' Poor woman !' said the fellow, laughing. ' See
there !' and he threw on the table an order for her
arrest
'Is that it?' said Mademoiselle de Lamourous,
quietly, 'we will go to-morrow morning P
' No, no/ cried the emissaries, ' you are too good
a creature — it would be a pity to harm you ; we will
say you were not at home ;' and they went off after
shaking hands warmly with her.
Her father was a great care to her. His faculties
were so far decayed that he could not be made to
understand the necessity of using cautious language;
and, being naturally hot-headed, he would declaim
against the Republicans with so much violence, that
his daughter was in constant alarm. Her sister,
who was left alone at Bourdeaux, often needed her
presence, and she did not know how to leave him
by himself at Le Pian, or take him into the city ;
but once when she had decided on the latter alter-
native, the old gentleman insisted on leaving the
carriage and walking into the town. Dreading
every moment lest he should ruin them both by
invectives against the new order of things, Th^rese
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THE BEION OF TERROR. 2$
took the sudden resolution of making his enemies
into his protectors, and going np to two men whose
garb and air indicated their revolutionary senti-
ments, she said, ' My friends, pray do me a service.
I am forced to go to Bourdeaux with this good old
man. He is determined to go on foot, and you see
how slowly he walks. I cannot leave him alone
lest some harm should befall him, but if you will be
kind enough to take him under your care, I am sure
that no one will hurt him whilst he is with you.'
The men complied with her request, and her confi-
dence in their honour was not misplaced. They took
every care of Monsieur de Lamourous, and brought
him safely to the place of his destination. He died
not long after, and was buried in the church of Le
Pian, near the font.
Le Pian still continued Th&fese's home, but she
made long visits to Bourdeaux to console her sister
for the absence of her husband, and she thus found
many opportunities of doing good. She contrived
to introduce a priest, with all the articles required
for the last rites of the church, to the bedside of the
dying wife of a furious Republican, and by her tact,
obviated all suspicions on the husband's part, and
enabled the poor lady to receive the last sacraments.
Still, when a name was a crime, she could hardly
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$0 MAKE THEBESE DE LAMOUROUS.
hope to escape, and was not surprised when she was
cited before the revolutionary tribunal. She had
made up her mind to die, but she had not left her
ready tact behind her.
' Citoyenne,' began the president, 'you stand
accused of nobility, and of hiding priests. Have
you anything to say for yourself?'
' Possibly, citoyen,' she answered ; ' but pray let
me ask one question first. What is that mark on
your face?'
' A strange question !' he said, 'do you not see
it is a mole?'
' But how came you by such a mole on your
cheek V
' How ? I was born with it, I had it from my
mother.'
' Well, citoyen, it is just so with me ; I was born
with my nobility, I had it from my mother.'
As every now and then happened, repartee was
the best defence ; the laugh was on her side, and ' Go
along then, you are a good child,' dismissed her.
She was, however, exiled from Bourdeaux, but being
allowed to go whither she pleased, was able to
return to Le Pian. In the many changes of mis-
rule which the unhappy cities of France underwent,
acquaintance of Mademoiselle de Lamourous became,
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THE COMMITTEE. 3 1
in their turn, elevated to the bloody tribunal ; and
she actually ventured to visit them, obtain a sight
of their list of proscriptions, and send secret infor-
mation to the victims not yet arrested; although
she was so fully aware of the peril to which she ex-
posed herself, that she had cut off her hair, in order
that it might not have to be done by the execu-
tioner at the last moment. She was twice arrested,
but on each occasion the committee appear not to
have had the heart to condemn the sweet-looking
being who stood so fearlessly in her innocence, and
she was never even imprisoned. Lacombe fell on
the 15th of August, 1794, declaring that the citizens
might thank him for not having put many more to
death, and Bourdeaux began to breathe again, as did
all France at the destruction of Robespierre, and the
close of the Reign of Terror. Afterwards, when
talking over these events, she was asked if she had
seen Lacombe. ' Yes/ she said, ' he lived opposite
to me at one time.' ' How wicked he must have
looked !' was the cry ; but all she would say was
' He looked very unhappy.'
Mademoiselle de Lamourous, finding herself
safely carried through the storm, and without any
immediate home duties, having attained middle life,
and being sufficiently wealthy to have few cares
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32 MABIE THAbAsB DB LAMOUBOUS.
connected with worldly matters, conceived the idea
that she had been thus reserved for some special
work. She had always lived in the practice of
active charity towards all her neighbours, but she
longed to devote herself to a more fixed employ-
ment in the service of God. It is a craving fre-
quent in persons of a deep and earnest cast of
character, and it is well for them if, like Marie
Ther&se de Lamourous, they are content to tarry
the Lord's leisure, and watch until the way be
pointed out; waiting not in dreamy aspiration,
but in daily fulfilment of the obvious tasks that lie
nearest at hand, sure that these are God's training
in being faithful in a little.
The sense that she might be called to leave her
beloved cottage at Le Pian weighed upon her in all
her aspirations, for her Sunday solitude there, and
the sense that she enjoyed of God's immediate pre-
sence in the silence of that lovely scenery, were very
precious to her ; nay, she afterwards owned that she
had caught herself kissing the very walls of her
little dwelling, in gratitude for the happiness she
had there enjoyed, and dread of being forced to
relinquish it; but she always ended by entreating
only that the Divine will might be made known to
her, and that she might faithfully act up to it.
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33
CHAPTER III.
THE APPOINTED TASK.
' I will lead them in ways that they have not known.'
In the July of the year 1800, a young woman
who had been led into vicious courses applied to a
charitable old lady at Bourdeaux, called Made-
moiselle de Pichon Longueville, and entreated to be
shown how to extricate herself from her present way
of life. She was placed with a dressmaker, and was
followed thither by several of her former com-
panions, who were equally desirous of reformation.
Mademoiselle de Pichon hired some rooms in a
house in the Hue St. Jean, where fifteen of these
poor creatures were assembled ; but they were ex-
tremely difficult to manage, utterly unused to all
control or regularity, and with wayward capricious
tempers, which broke out in all sorts of freaks
against the authority of the person placed in charge
of them.
Mademoiselle de Pichon was eighty-two years
of age, and in failing health. She could do no more
than make occasional visits to the house, where she
d by Google
34 MARIE TH^RESE DE LAMOUROUS.
encountered nothing but disheartening bickerings
and confusion. She was nearly despairing of success
in reclaiming these poor stray sheep, when she re-
collected Mademoiselle de Lamourous, forty-two
years of age, peculiarly dextrous in dealing with
every kind of character, and actually on the watch
for some good work. She entreated her to give her
assistance in taming the unruly spirits in the Rue
St. Jean, but, at the first sound of the proposal,
Th6rese turned away in repugnance and indignation.
Not only had a more attractive project of charity
been lately proposed to her, but her pure and
innocent spirit shrank from the contemplation of
guilt; and hitherto, rather than meet an outcast
woman in the streets, she would cross over to spare
herself the spectacle. The thought of contact with
sinners of this class was so abhorrent to her, that
she shrank from her friend as though displeased
that the very notion should have been presented to
her mind, and it was only her veneration, for Made-
moiselle de Pichon's great age and life of excellence
that induced her to listen to her persuasions. At
last, with a great effort over herself, she consented to
accompany her friend on one of her visits to the Rue
St. Jean. It was part of her nature to speak sweetly
and gently to all who approached her, and such was
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THE EUE ST. JEAN. 35
the effect of her manner on the poor wild beings,
that they stood whispering together, ' There is one
who would succeed with us/ No sooner had she
left them, however, than her loathiDg and sense of
contamination returned in full force, and she re-
solved never to go near them again ; but her con-
science reproached her with harshness towards them,
and with refusing what might be her appointed task,
and she forced herself to make them another call.
Her face had already won their hearts, and she
heard them calling joyfully to one another, ' Here
comes Mademoiselle de Lamourous!' Each visit
rendered them more attached to her, and drew her
towards them while in their company, but when
absent from them her dislike only increased; and
the contrast, between her beloved retreat at Le Pian
and the contentious chatter of fifteen uneducated and
degraded women, presented itself more forcibly.
Her sisters wished her to live with them, and
could not endure her visits to the Hue St. Jean;
and great were her struggles of mind, and earnest
her prayers to be shown the right course. One
relation alone, a gentleman of strong sense and great
piety, was in favour of her turning her attention to
these penitents. 'Yes, do so, sister/ he said, 'it is
for the glory of God/
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36 mabie th£r£se de lamoubous.
Every thing seemed to her in her present state
to be an omen to direct her towards her duty. One
night, a friend called her to admire the unusually
brilliant starlight, but by the time she obeyed the
summons, the stars were all dim, and glimmering
feebly through the mist. She at once thought of
the light of Divine grace in the hearts of the poor
wanderers, nearly extinguished by crime, and yet
capable of being rekindled into a flame of love by
Him who will not quench the smoking flax. Rent
by conflicting doubts and feelings, she returned to
Le Pian, and there had an attack of illness, the
result of her agitation. It was a feverish dream that
gave the final impulse, and a very awful one. She
imagined herself beholding the Great Day of Doom,
and that she recognized each of the sinners in the
Hue St. Jean standing before the judgment seat,
and receiving sentence of condemnation, and then
each, in falling, looking full at her and crying, ' Had
you come to us, we had been saved !'
Those dreadful words and agonizing looks
haunted her when she awoke. She took the dream
as an intimation of the will of God, and the next
morning she hired a donkey and rode into Bourdeaux,
taking her night-clothes with her, in case she should
find courage to sleep that night in the Rue St Jean.
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THE FIBST NIGHT. 37
She went first to Mademoiselle de Pichon, and ac-
companied by her and her confessor, Monsieur Cha-
minade, she repaired to the house, but without a hint
of her intention, until they took leave in the evening,
when she lighted them to the door, and said simply
' Good night ! I shall stay.' Thenceforth the peni-
tents were her children, their abode her home ; and
though she often visited Le Pian, and sometimes
was absent on business, her prime care and object
in life was the work of mercy to which she had
thus been led.
The period was one when such an asylum was
peculiarly needed. The great convulsion which had
loosened all the bonds of society, destroyed all ex-
ternal forms of religion, and set at nought all pre-
cepts of morality, had left many a homeless outcast
astray upon the wide world, and many a desolate
victim who had fallen for want of protection, and
who remained an unwilling wanderer, longing to
return, yet driven by famine and misery to persist in
her course of shame and sin ; and the tidings of the
refuge opened in the Rue St. Jean was like a ray of
light in the midst of the gloom of despair to many
of these forlorn sinners. They came in numbers to
entreat to be admitted, and Mademoiselle de La-
mourous could not bear to turn them from the door,
D
Digitized by VjOOQlC
38 MARIE THBBESE DE LAMOUEOUS.
though they were fast overflowing the rooms at
present hired for them, where Mademoiselle de
Lamourous not only slept in the midst of them, but
as they had no place for washing their clothes,
actually attended them to the river, where she would
stand beside them as they washed, guarding and en-
couraging them under the insults which the more
respectable, but sadly foul-mouthed, laundresses chose
to lavish on them.
In the worst times of the Reign of Terror an
association had been formed among the faithful at
Bourdeaux, who agreed to kneel every day at five
o'clock, wherever they might be, and offer up special
intercessions for the conversion of hardened sinners.
Monsieur Boy er, the vicar-general of the diocese, seems
to have accepted the work of the demoiselles de Pichon
and de Lamourous as an answer to these prayers, and,
in concert with Monsieur Chaminade, raised a sub-
scription among the pious ladies of the city, enabling
him to hire a more suitable place of abode; and, after
a sojourn of a few months in a house called the
Maison Guerand, on the eve of Ascension Day, 1801,
Mademoiselle de Lamourous, with thirty-five women,
migrated to another dwelling in the Allies d'Albret.
The establishment took the name of La Misencorde,
or Mercy, and regulations were * drawn up for it.
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LA MIStiMCOBDE. 39
Monsieur Chaminade blessed the black caps and ker-
chiefs which the women were to wear in token of
penitence, and Mademoiselle de Lamonrons was con-
stituted head of the institution, where she soon won
for herself the loving title of ' La bonne Mere*— ±The
good Mother. A nun from a destroyed convent, Made-
moiselle Adelaide, came to assist her ; and only ten
days after this removal, one of the penitents, called
Julie, was, on Whit Sunday, solemnly reconciled to
the Ohurch in the little chamber set apart for an ora-
tory. She had been preparing ever since February,
and, in presence of all her companions, with the utmost
contrition, she made open confession of her sins, re-
ceived absolution from Monsieur Chaminade, renewed
her baptismal vows, and was admitted to the holy
Eucharist. Her sincere repentance and her joy in
her reconciliation strongly affected all the spec-
tators, serving both as example and encourage -
- ment ; and thenceforth she was a valuable coadjutor
to the two directresses.
Such joy was, however, counterbalanced by
great vexations. La Mis^ricorde was unpopular at
Bourdeaux, and all sorts of false reports prevailed
respecting it, depriving it of the support of those
who gave credence to them ; and the storms within
were far more serious. The novelty having begun
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40 MAE1E THEBESE DE LAM0UR0U8.
to pass off, the inmates became insubordinate : they
worked each other up to a state of excitement in
which all the evil passions of their past life betrayed
themselves, to the horror of Mademoiselle de La-
mourous. She looked upon these outbursts as the
efforts of Satan to recover his dominion over his
former subjects ; and, haunted as she was, day and
night, by sounds so new to her, it was no wonder
that she actually believed she heard the very devils
themselves uttering maledictions around her bed.
Her anxieties affected her health so much that she
fell sick, and was obliged to go away for the months
of July and August, while poor Mademoiselle Ade-
laide underwent a sort of martyrdom, finding herself
unable to restrain the violent quarrels and the noisy
merriment so hateful to her ears, and which, re-
sounding in the very streets, brought the establish-
ment into worse repute than ever. Forty-two
excitable and wayward beings from the very dregs
of society, all left under the charge of one simple
nun ! the very best of them too little used to self-
control not to be liable to be led away by any re-
currence to old associations, and some too absolutely
corrupt and degraded to understand any appeal to
better feelings, and only bent on stirring up their
companions to wild revelry. The only marvel
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EVIL TIMES. 41
was that Mademoiselle Adelaide could survive that
wretched period, or that Marie Thgrese could again
find courage to resume the apparently hopeless strife
with evil ; but back she came with unabated energy,
and the disorders were mitigated by her influence,
although not until she had been forced to expel seven
of the most mischievous of the rebels. It was long
however before all the harm could be undone within,
and without, the consequences had well nigh ruined
the undertaking. People decided that it was un-
worthy of their support, and withdrew their sub-
scriptions; the funds were exhausted; and the
committee, on the 15th of September, 1801, decided
on dismissing half the inmates for want of means,
but, on further consideration, resolved to keep them
a month longer, allowing them only the barest
necessaries of life, in such scanty measure that it
was thought that very few would be willing to re-
main upon such terms.
Mademoiselle de Lamourous was summoned to
the committee to be informed of these resolutions,
and, on her return, much later than had been ex-
pected, the women came round her exclaiming at
her delay. ' Alas ! my children/ she said, ' if I am
tardy, you are the cause. Never have you grieved
me so much as to-day. The offences committed
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42 MABIE THEBE8E DE LAMOUBOUS.
against God in this house have brought down His
anger. The storm has been threatening for weeks,
to-day the lightning has flashed, and half of yon
had well nigh been consumed by it Yes, this very
night would you hare been driven from La Mis^ri-
corde, and I myself was condemned to expel you!'
At these words cries and sobs broke out in the
hall, and brought the whole house together, in the
most violent state of excitement; those who had
seemed the most obdurate and insensible to good
impressions clinging with desperation to the home'
they were in danger of losing, and each entreating
that the sentence might not fall on herself.
'What!' cried one, 'just when I had heartily
begun to work at my general confession? how
could I finish it? 1
' And I !' exclaimed another, ' have I only learnt
to abhor my past life that I may discover that there
is no more mercy for me?'
* I should not go,* said a third, ' they could not
tear me away!'
* No,' exclaimed another, ' we have been too
ungrateful to God ! He is going to give us all up !
We shall all be turned out ! She who speaks to us
is too tender to tell us !'
The excitable creatures were so strongly acted
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BEFORMATION. 43
upon by this notion, that such a storm of weeping and
wailing broke ont that the directresses could hardly
make themselves heard, as they declared that the
decree at any rate would not be executed for a
month. Upon this each pressed to know if she
should have been one to be sent away.
' I could not have borne to decide/ answered
Mademoiselle de Lamourous ; ' I should have yielded
you up to Providence, and made you draw lots/
'Lots!' cried one, 'Oh! I should never have
taken courage. I have been unlucky all my life.
I know I should have had the black lot !'
When they were calm enough to attend, Made-
moiselle de Lamourous explained the Btate of affairs,
and that, unless some circumstance should arise in
their favour, the maintenance of the full number
would be impossible; therefore, that they must
entreat for aid, in the spirit of penitence. ' You
have not sought first the kingdom of God nor His
righteousness, therefore things needful have not been
added unto you ; but God, angered by your offences,
has made the faithful despise you. He has allowed
the rumour of your scandalous behaviour to spread,
in order that you may be punished for it, by His
mercy. It is of His mercy that the blow has not
yet fallen ; but you must all endure severe privation,
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44 MAEIE THERESE de lamourous.
in consequence of the want which has fallen upon
this house, and still more as the penance which
those ought to inflict on themselves who have
manifestly abused the blessings bestowed on them.
These privations will be more or less long, according
as God sees you patient and penitent under them/
'Bread and water!' cried the poor girls, fwe
will live on bread and water, provided it is at La
MisSricorde!'
Such had been the effect of the panic, that when
Monsieur Chaminade arrived with the list of the
indulgences that must be reduced, instead of mur-
murs, he met only with gratitude, and wonder that
so much was still allowed them. There were no
complaints, and the dread of expulsion kept the
most unruly so meek and well disciplined, that there
was every hope that their penitence was real. But
the month passed by without bringing any addition
to the resources of the establishment, and by the
27th of October the .whole of the funds was ex-
hausted. The gentlemen of the committee were
ill or absent, the directresses had drawn to the
utmost on their private means, and were so deeply
in debt that the baker had declared that, after a
fixed day, he would send in no bread. There was
no firewood in the house, and hardly any food,
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THE CRISIS. 45
and there were thirty-five to be fed, several of
them sick. Mademoiselle de Lamourous went out
to apply to some of her friends for help, but in vain.
For a few moments she gave way to depression ; but,
knowing that this species of despondency was pecu-
liarly hurtful to her penitents, she cheered up
Mademoiselle Adelaide by saying, 'Let us take
courage and banish all care. We have done what
depends on ourselves. Let us patiently wait for the
manifestation of the will of God. If this work be
of Him, He will provide for it. He who could
make the stones bread, could send bread into this
house. If He do not, it is because it is not His
Will; and what did we propose to ourselves in
undertaking this work but to act in harmony with
His Divine Will ? Let us be at peace, then, and
wait with patience, firmness, and cheerfulness until
the end.'
With this resolution she presided cheerfully at
the dinner, and then led the way to the oratory for
the afternoon prayers. The hour of recreation en-
sued; but she remained on her knees in earnest
supplication, and was much affected by seeing several
of the women doing the same. It was remarked,
when these joined their companions, that they were
unusually bright and hopeful, even though the last
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46 MARIE THEBBSSB DE LAM0UR0U8.
food in the house was heing cooked for supper, with
the fire made of vine clippings for want of firewood.
There was a knock at the door. A cart-load of
fagots had been sent in by the committee. Before
the evening was over, supplies of vegetables, wine,
and money had arrived ; and the danger was averted.
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47
CHAPTER IV.
THE HOUSE IN LES ALLIES D'ALBRET.
'The heart that trusts for ever sings,
And feels as light as it had wings ;
A well of peace within it springs,
Come good or ill ;
Whate'er to-day, to-morrow brings,
It is His will.'
The worst crisis was past, but for many years the
inmateB of La MiseVicorde lived from hand to month,
dependent on precarious supplies of alms ; or upon
work which was, with great difficulty, obtained by
the exertions of Mademoiselle de Lamourous. Wash-
ing and needlework were the chief resources, and
she sought throughout the city for such employment,
exposing herself to most trying scenes. Wherever
work was given out, there was she, often hustled,
pushed about, and abused by the throng of other ap-
plicants, who accused her of trying to take the bread
out of honest months, and treated with scorn by rude
and vulgar-minded employers ; but she bore all with
single-minded 1 and undaunted patience and good
humour, and did not even shrink from mingling with
a crowd of eager sempstresses begging for work
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48 MARIE THERESE DE LAM0UR0U8.
from the master tailor at the barracks. Coming
home with limbs exhausted and feet galled by walk-
ing, she had to teach her charges to do the work she
had brought them, and afterwards to carry it back
and entreat for payment, often receiving reproaches
for the manner in which it was executed. Strange
tasks for a high-born, delicately-reared lady were
these ! but she took each as it came, unconscious of
her heroism, and solely bent on providing for her
children.
Every small piece of work, every gift from
without, was hailed as a fresh token of mercy, and,
in her own words, ' seemed to cry in her ears the
words ' thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou
doubt ?' * So that it was to her as if the good God
were present, pleading with her and covering her
with shame for her anxieties. She was delighted
with a small print representing a heart placed in a
boat without oar or sail, but with across for the rudder,
and the motto, ' Providence is my guide^ She had
it framed, hung it in her room, and often kissed it,
so great was the consolation that it gave to her, as
an emblem of the way in which she committed her-
self to her heavenly Guardian. So often did relief
come in at the moment of utmost need, that she felt
as though the hand of heaven were perpetually re-
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PROVIDENTIAL SUCCOURS. 49
vealed to her, and recorded these answers to her
prayers with a simplicity and earnestness of thank-
fulness that make us honour her faith, while we smile
at the homely detail of the chine and hog's puddings
which feasted the whole community ; of the quilt that
came in the very day anew comer had been received,
though there was nothing to cover her bed ; of the
four complete dresses that were hunted bit by bit
out of the cupboard, when Mademoiselle Adelaide
had declared there was nothing there ; of the firewood
sent in by an unknown hand, when the last log had
been burnt ; of the two coins given by a strauger,
when the funds were reduced to seven sous.
If Th6rese looked on these timely succours as so
many interpositions of Providence, they wore a mi-
raculous air to the rest of La Mis^ricorde. It would
be giving no fair account of the institution to blink
at the superstition that prevailed there, and indeed
it could hardly have been otherwise. Marie Th6rese
de Lamoiyous was a woman whose mission was to
act rather than think. Like the Charity of Dante,
she was one glow of fervent love to God and man,
receiving blessings from above only to pour them
down on those below, and without leisure or incli-
nation to question what she had been taught, or, ex-
cept by the direct instincts of her personal piety, to
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JO MABIE TH^EESE DE LAM0UB0U8.
sift the wheat from the chaff. She continually ad-
dressed her prayers directly to her God, but she
would have regarded it as sacrilege to doubt of the
lawfulness or efficacy of invocations of saints, and
she even wrote letters to the Blessed Virgin to en-
treat her mediation in their difficulties; and dedi-
cated her account books to her. Nay, she would
enter among the items, ' Received such a sum from
the mighty Sovereign, Mistress, Foundress, and ten-
der Mother of Mercy !' St. Joseph, and her own
patroness, St Theresa, were likewise objects of her
special adoration; and neuvaines in honour of St.
Joseph were thought to have been the great means
of bringing the timely supply at the first period
of destitution.
If the devotion of the Superior, well educated,
and from childhood well acquainted with the Holy
Scriptures, had been thus perverted by the teachings
of her Church, no wonder that these errors were
exaggerated among her penitents, taken from the
moBt ignorant and credulous class, impressed with
religious sentiments late in life, with childish ex-
citable minds, without any proportion in their way
of viewing objects, and always on the look out for a
miracle. Thus we find them relating, that when the
dough would not rise, la bonne mbre put in a little
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IMAGINABT MJBACLES. 5 1
holy water, kneaded it herself for a few moments,
and all was right. When one of them was ill and
could fancy no food but a bird which could not be
procured, another addressed her entreaties to a pic-
ture, that she mistook for that of St. Antony of
Padua, who was said to have preached to the birds,
when immediately a flock of birds alighted in
the garden, and one allowed itself to be caught.
When they found their clothes growing ragged, they
would represent their case to their favorite saint, and
attribute to his good- will the next supply. And once,
when some linen that had been sent in to be washed
had received some accidental stains — the despair of
the whole department — the laundress, after much
vain soaping and wringing, burst out with an ' Ave
Maria, blessed Virgin, help us ! Assuredly you
could wash I ' and after her next Ave, found the
obstinate spots entirely gone.
All these stories were the natural effect of the
exaggerated tone of mind produced by the errors
of Bomanism, acting upon persons who were living
in a peculiar condition of immediate and visible
dependence upon Providence.
Mademoiselle de Lamourous was preserved by
her humility and good sense from acknowledging
many of these imaginary miracles, but she had
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52 MARIE THERESE DE LAM0UR0US.
never learnt the scepticism we should feel on the
whole subject, and generally preferred adoring the
undoubted mercy to questioning the agency by
which it had been accomplished. Nor did she ever
act like the countryman in the fable, — while she
prayed, she put her own shoulder to the wheel, and
toiled to the very utmost, hoping for a blessing
upon her exertions, but not on help without them.
The most serious evil of the poverty of the establish-
ment, and the small accommodation furnished by the
present dwelling house, was the want of an infirmary,
which made it necessary to send severe cases of ill-
ness to the public hospital. Here visitors had ac-
cess to the patients, unedifying conversations took
place, old associations were revived, the good work
was undone, and many of the poor creatures were
persuaded to go back to their former courses instead
of returning to their asylum. The Mise>icorde was
likewise overlooked by the prisons, and whenever the
j?,inmates came near the windows, they were saluted
with shouts of mockery and execration by the pri-
soners. Mademoiselle Adelaide, in the dress of her
order, and Mademoiselle de Lamourous, who was then
in mourning for a brother-in-law, were exempt from
these insults, but as soon as the latter re-appeared in
colours, she was hooted at like the rest ; and believing
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DRESS OF THE DIRECTRESSES. 53
that the prisoners had respected the black dress as a
religious habit, she resumed it; aod when other di-
rectresses began to join her, (the first came in 1802,
shortly before the death of Mademoiselle Adelaide,)
she thought it best that they too should wear black.
She used to make them walk about the room for ex-
amination into their attire, as she merrily told them
of the advice once given to herself. ' Let us see,' she
said, ' whether you have too much or too little ! You
need a gown, — you have one ; a shawl, — you need
that too; a cap, — for you cannot go about bare-
headed ! You are all right, you have exactly what
is wanted/ She objected to their wearing veils,
thinking these might give an impression of gloom
and melancholy in the eyes of the penitents, and
were not appropriate when they were obliged to
go out into the town, — a veil seen in the streets
in the evening might bring cloistered nuns into dis-
repute. She had no love of costume or peculiarity,
and the huge cap which pervaded the whole estab-
lishment was their natural dress, and may be seen
in portraits of the date of her youth, worn by young
as well as old ladies. The crown is like Mambrino's
helmet, and a broad frill with a wide hem acts as
sides, border, trimming and all. The directresses
wore it in white, the penitents in black;; otherwise.
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54 MABIE THERESE DE LAMOUEOUS.
the penitents had no costume, but wore out the
clothes they brought, and were supplied with more
according to need, but often with extreme difficulty,
as indeed they only subsisted at all by the most
rigid economy. Everything was made the most of ;
.handkerchiefs, aprons, and petticoats of absolute
patchwork of the smallest fragments, were subjects
of innocent pride in the thrift and ingenuity they
proved. Mademoiselle de Lamourous would even
pick up any respectable-looking shred she saw in the
street, and said she never felt so dishonest as when
she passed a rag merchant's. Old clothes were a
most welcome gift to her, and were laid up in what
was to her a treasure house ; and just before winter
had set in, and at the beginning of summer, the whole
hoard was displayed like the goods at a bazaar. The
head of each class brought an account of the wants
of her charges, and la bonne mkre dispensed her stores.
Her mirth and lively sallies made the scene a
perfect festival ; patches were glories, and the plea-
sure of adapting a rag to a hole, or of finding a faded
gown which would fit a shivering inmate, was to
these simple souls a delight equal to the most un-
limited choice in a milliner's show room. Even in
extreme old age, when confined to her bed, her half-
yearly rag fair was one of the great events of La
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PATCHWORK. 55
MisSricorde ; and the happy old lady lay on her bed,
scattered over with these precious tatters, giving them
as they were received, as honourable prizes, and re-
joicing in the thought that all the stitching and
contriving of which they were the occasion, fur-
nished wholesome occupation for the present, and
likewise eradicated the unthrift, vanity, and indo-
lence ' which had no doubt been in many cases the
primary temptations. She used to say, that it was
not to waste but to want that our Lord promised a
constant supply, and she desired her directresses
never to ask for anything new till they were abso-
lutely certain that no further use could be made of
the old. But where the necessity was real — ' Ask
boldly, my daughters/ she said, ' your prayers can-
not fail to be acceptable/ As an instance of her
mingled economy and trustfulness, when the direct-
resses brought her word that, for the coming winter,
there were wanting twenty-four pair of worsted
stockings, eighteen pair of list shoes, and the same
number of sabots, she replied, ' That is well ; a cha-
ritable person has sent us a donation of thirty-five
francs, destined for the very purpose.'
' Yes, bonne mere, so far so good, but how can so
much be bought with thirty-five francs?'
' If God should send us no more money, we shall
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J 6 MARIE THERESB DE LAMOUBOUS.
still be able to provide. As to the sabots, we need
not buy them. Look in all the odd corners and you
will find old ones flattened or spoilt, which may
be made up again, and the list shoes may be
made of scraps and shreds of cloth, which are sure
to be found on the floor of the loft or in the presses.'
The directresses smiled at her ready answer, and
suggested the stockings. 'They are less easy to
make, we must buy them/ she said ; ' I will add
something from my private treasury .' With this,
however, only twenty-one pairs could be bought, but
she told them not to be uneasy, Providence would
send what was wanting ; and that same day there
arrived a parcel containing two woollen jackets and
two pairs of stockings. One pair was still wanting.
'Oh!' she said, 'the shopkeeper of whom you
bought the twenty-one may very well give one pair
into the bargain. Oo and propose to him this good
work, my children/ The whole number was ac-
cordingly provided. The eighteen pairs of list shoes
all came in at once as alms, the giver telling the
portress to keep one pair for herself; but she carried
them to la bonne mere, saying she was not in need at
the time, and begging some one might have them
who was more destitute. While a grand review of
broken down sabots was going on, a note was
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RECEPTION OF ALMS. 57
brought in containing the words, ' I am well shod,
yet my feet are very cold. That reminds me of the
daughters of La Misericorde. I beg of you to send
to for twelve pair of sabots.' The six pair
still required were supplied by picking out the best
of the odd ones remaining, and the whole household
was set up in 'hose and shoon,' which they re-
garded as gifts from Providence.
Utterly without pride, no one better realized
than la bonne mere that mercy is ' twice blessed/
both to him that gives and him that takes ; she used
to say she loved the money that came in as alms,
and she hasbeen known to kiss the copper coins, as the
visible emblems of the love and good- will ' dropping
like the gentle rain from heaven/ Donations raised
by means of which she could not approve were,
however, rejected by her. Madame Blanchard, an
aeronaut then much sought after, when exhibiting
at Bourdeaux, offered to give the profits of one of
her ascents with her balloon to La Misericorde;
but, though Mademoiselle de Lamourous expressed
warm gratitude, she would not consent to receive
this donation, saying that she thought it wrong, even
indirectly, to have any share in leading another
person to imperil her life. In the same spirit, in
a time of great need, she refused the proceeds of
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58 MARIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS.
a charity ball. Alms, the fruit of love and devo-
tion, were dear to her ; the mere price of pleasure
would in her eyes bring no blessing.
The more she lived to ' taste and see how
gracious the Lord is/ the more buoyant grew her
spirit, and the more she exulted in her immediate
dependence upon Him. One day when a debt had
been paid off, the purse was quite exhausted, and
the directresses held it up to her, saying, ' See, good
mother, the purse is empty ! '
' Quite empty V she cried, and laying hold of it,
she kissed it respectfully. 'We have nothing!
How delightful ! Nothing, and all these people to
feed ! Now, then, we may reckon solely upon God,
and depend on Him alone ! Daughters, kneel down
and thank God for having nothing !' The direct-
resses heartily did as she bade them, and as they
rose, she exclaimed, 'Now, children, for the very
joy of having nothing, dance a round.' And dance
they did, with the greatest gaiety imaginable.
Surely if St. Francis espoused the holy Lady
Poverty, Marie The'rese de Lamourous alone de-
vised dancing at such a wedding.
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59
CHAPTER V.
THE CONVENT.
1 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteous-
ness, and all these things shall be added unto you/
The year 1807 was marked by the death of Made-
moiselle de Pichon Longueville, who had lived just
long enough to see the good seed which she had
sown begin to take firm root-, and bear goodly blos-
som. Her memory was always held in veneration
at La MisSricorde as the first foundress. The
institution had so completely outgrown the house in
the Allies d' Albret, that Mademoiselle de Lamourous
was anxious to secure a more suitable place of abode,
and hearing that the confiscated Oonvent of Les An-
nonciades, in the Eue St. Eulalie, was put up for sale
by government, she sent for Monsieur Ohaminade to
consult him on the subject. The cost was so entirely
beyond her means that he was startled by the proposal,
and, after a few moments' consideration, said, * Before
answering, allow me to ask you a few questions.
Do you firmly believe that this work is of God V
' Yes, I firmly believe so/ she answered.
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60 MARIE THEBESE DE LAMOUBOUS.
' And do you likewise firmly believe yourself the
person called to it?'
' I do/ she replied, with a decision that struck
him the more from her usual gentle deference ; and
he said at once —
* Then buy it, by all means, but buy the two lots
at once, both house and church.'
This was to secure privacy, for the buildings
were in a ruinous state. The church had been used
as a manufactory of saltpetre, and another portion as
a public house, with gardens, the resort of the troops
of the garrison. With great effort, and by pledging
her beloved estate at Le Pian, Mademoiselle de
Lamourous raised the first instalment of the pur-
chase-money, and was put in possession on the eve
of Palm Sunday 1808, when she set in hand the
most needful repairs ; and, fearing that the soldiers
might not at once forget their old haunt, she sta-
tioned a trusty portress at the gate, with orders on
no account to leave it, nor to enter into conversation
with any soldier who might present himself, but
civilly to refuse him entrance.
This was just at the time when Napoleon's
treacherous interference in Peninsular politics was
taking him to meet his dupes, the Spanish royal
family, at Bayonne. Maret, his minister, afterwards
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HIS EXCELLENCY. 6 1
Dake of Baflsano, had come in his suite to Bour-
deaux, and occupied himself in surveying the various
public establishments, accompanied by the mayor,
and a brilliant train of officials. In the Rue St.
Eulalie, the heaps of rubbish round the old convent
attracted his attention, and he became desirous of
seeing the institution ; but, on knocking at the gate,
the portress, dismayed by their uniforms, only an-
swered there was no admittance, and would not hear
of leaving her post to call her Superior.
'I tell you,' cried the suite, 'his Excellency
wants to see Mademoiselle de Lamourous.'
' I know nothing about Excellencies; my orders
are not to leave my gate,' returned the sturdy guar-
dian ; and it was not till a city magistrate, whom she
knew by sight, promised her to act as porter in her
absence, that she consented to go and summon the
head of the house, and off she ran. Mademoiselle
de Lamourous saw her coming, and exclaimed —
' Daughter, where are your keys ? '
' I gave them to some gentlemen, who insist on
speaking to you.*
'What gentlemen?'
' I don't know ! Gentlemen all over gold lace ! '
' Soldiers !' cried poor Mademoiselle de Lamou-
rous, ' and you have given them the keys ! '
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6 2 MARIE THBRESE DE LAMOUBOUS.
She hurried to defend her castle, but was re-
lieved by recognizing the magistrates, and conducted
the party to the parlour, where her high-bred ease
delighted the minister, even before he entered on
the subject of her work. He begged to go over the
house, and was exceedingly touched by the evidences
of poverty, as well as by the noble self-devotion of
the Superior.
'This is your time, Mademoiselle/ exclaimed
the magistrates, ' you will never have a better op-
portunity of obtaining support. Beg his Excellency
to recommend you to his Majesty/
'What can I ask?' she quietly asked, 'Mon-
seigneur sees, that is enough/
' Ah !' said one of her friends, 'she acts pride ;
but I would bet that she has not six francs/
'And it was true/ Mademoiselle de Lamourous
said, in relating the story, ' I had not/
Monsieur Maret, taking leave of her with the
utmost respect, begged her to write down what she
had been telling him, and to send it in quickly, as
he should leave the city the next morning. She
immediately sent to ask the advice of Monsieur
Ohaminade, who desired her to do as the minister
had recommended, and she set to work ; but she
found it so difficult to draw up a business-like state-
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THE MEMORIAL. 63
ment that she was nearly in despair. She left her
room, and calling her charges around her, she told
them that she had a great task in hand, almost
beyond her powers, and in which they were deeply
concerned. ' You must help me/ she said ; ' pray,
my children !' After spending a great part of the
night over her desk, she had produced the required
memorial, and set off with it in the morning to lay
it before Monsieur Maret. On arriving at the palace,
entrance was refused to her ; the Court was on the
point of departure, and his Excellency could not
be seen. In vain she applied to everyone of any
authority, all access to his person was denied, and
at last she was reduced to standing outside, looking
up to the windows. She beheld him, caught his
eye, received a favourable glance, and hastened
back to the door ; but the same rejection awaited her,
and the utmost she could obtain by the most urgent
entreaties, was permission to enter his office for one
moment in his absence, and to lay her memorial
upon his table. She was forced to -retire without
knowing whether it would fall under his eye ; but
soon after the Court had left Bourdeaux, the mayor
called upon her with the welcome tidings that his
Excellency had laid the paper before the Emperor.
On the 28th of April, only three weeks after her
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64 MARIE THEBESE DE LAMOUBOUS.
bold purchase, she received a letter from Maret
himself, to inform her that his Majesty desired to
participate in her pious undertaking, and had, there-
fore, made her a free grant of the convent without
purchase, adding 12,000 francs for the needful
repairs. Freed from her debt, and secure of a
home for her children, the first act of the happy
and thankful Th6rese was to hasten into the garden,
and pull up radishes enough to furnish the whole
community with a feast, by way of first fruits of
their new possession. She had some difficulty in
obtaining the restoration of the sum she had pre-
viously paid on account, but she succeeded, and was
thus enabled to release Le Pian, which was her
place of retreat and refreshment when worn out by
the labours of La Mis6ricorde, and where her visits,
especially at the vintage, were the jubilee of the
peasants. She had endangered this beloved home
for the benefit of her children, and she received
it back again as a gift from Providence.
The repairs of La Mis^ricorde were set on foot,
and as they necessitated keeping the garden gate
open, a directress was placed on guard near it
She reported that every morning, two ladies, one in
extreme old age, came to walk under the wall, and
would sometimes peep wistfully in at the open gate,
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THE OLD NUNS. 6$
murmuring, ' Poor old house ! poor old house ! '
Mademoiselle de Lamourous desired that next time
they should be asked to walk in, and conducted to
her room. The younger lady began to excuse the
liberty they had taken by explaining that they were
two nuns, who had made their vows in that very
convent, and that her companion, Sceur Victoire,
had been there for forty years, when they were
expelled by the fury of the Revolution, and cast
upon a world for which they were unfitted ; and now
it was their chief solace to hover round their once
peaceful home, and now and then obtain a glance
into what they regarded as a garden of delight.
'0 Mesdames/ cried Mademoiselle de Lamou-
rous, touched to the depths of her warm heart, ' you
are the true owners of this house ! Look on it as
such ! I am only your guest. Sincerely do I
lament the injustice that robbed you, and I would
repair it as far as I may. I have purchased it,
indeed, but had I not, you might have seen it an
inn or a manufactory! It is your house! Gome
and work here, come and rest here! Gome and
pray in the chapel, and walk in the garden ! Treat
the fruit and flowers as your own, and always say
'this house — this garden is mine!' She gave the
keys into their hands/ and when they insisted on
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66 MARIE THEBESE DE LAM0UB0U8.
returning them, she said, ' Well, then, I hold these
keys from you, as the representatives of the whole
sisterhood, the true owners.'
And she renewed her invitations, which were
accepted in the same spirit, and the two sisters were
never so happy as when visiting at La Mis&icorde,
whither, in consideration for the poverty of the
establishment, the younger, Sceur Therese, always
brought her own meals. She had some private
means, and had taken the charge of the aged Sceur
Victoire, whom she treated with the most tender
reverence and affection, though the poor old lady
was not an ideal nun, and had little fits of fretful-
ness which were best controlled by a threat not to
take her to La Mis6ricorde, and had likewise
a certain conventual daintiness, which made the
penitents remark that Sceur Victoire always knew
how to get the lettuce with the best heart. Sceur
The*rese was a most admirable person, a valuable
friend to Mademoiselle de Lamourous, and much
beloved by the whole household. It was the
favourite Sunday delight to sit round her in the
garden, listening to her histories of the convent
as it once had been, as she pointed out the old
rooms, and told little details of the lives of the sister-
hood. Both nuns died in the arms of the directresses
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THE CHAPEL. 6 J
and were mourned as elder sisters by the whole
establishment.
The convent was of great antiquity; built around
a large court or garden, in the low ponderous Byzan^
tine or Romanesque style prevalent in Southern
France, which so long retained the impress of Roman
civilization. The cloisters were supported by narrow
arches, rising from small short columns on elevated
plinths. ' In the composite capitals, the elegant
Ionic horn had assumed the strange grotesque form
of what we call the Norman style.' These beautiful
cloisters had been much built up, and spoilt; and
the church, which was on one side of the court, was
in utter desolation. The more ancient part ' looks
like a crypt brought above ground . . . but another
portion is lighter, a transition from Byzantine to
Ogivale.' Twelve furnaces for saltpetre had been
in the desecrated building, and the ruinous state
was such that Mademoiselle de Lamourous could
not attempt to use it, and set apart a large room on
the ground floor to serve as a chapel.
The fittings of this oratory were the humblest
imaginable, but so carefully and reverently arranged,
that the first impression on entering it was ' that if
the Good Master were not better treated, it was
because this was all that could be done.' The lights
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68 MAKIE THERESE DE LAMOUBOUS.
were candle ends, begged at more wealthy churches
by la bonne mere; the pulpit had cost but sixteen
francs, earned by special diligence of the penitents :
and there were no seats at all — the congregation
knelt, or during a sermon sat upon their heels.
In this ruinous old convent La Misericorde took
up its abode, re -consecrating the spot where the
orgies of the Revolution had for nearly twenty years
taken the place of the hymns of the sisterhood.
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6 9
CHAPTER VI.
THE JOUENEY TO PARIS.
' bliss of childlike innocence and love
Tried to old age!'
The additional space gained by removing to Les
Annonciades enabling Mademoiselle de Lamourons
to receive new inmates, she was induced to apply
for an annual grant from government ; but in this
she failed, and she afterwards rejoiced that such had
been the result. Had she been in the pay of the State,
she would have been bound to receive whomsoever the
authorities might send her, instead of only willing
penitents ; and thus the whole character of the place
would have been changed, and it would have become
a prison for the guilty instead of a retreat for the
repenting. Even Napoleon's gift, though merely of
the land, buildings, and repairs, served to put a
stop for a time to private charity ; people fancied
that La Mis6ricorde was provided for, and so little
came in, that the establishment was reduced to great
straits, and could scarcely have subsisted at all, had
not Mademoiselle de Lamourons obtained permission
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JO MAKIE TH&BESE BE LAMOUBOUS.
that the inmates should be employed in rolling to-
bacco leaves into cigars for the imperial manufactory.
Still, in 1809, a document of Mademoiselle de
Lamourous states that there were ninety penitents,
under five directresses besides herself, the Superior.
Many others, after a thorough reformation, had been
placed in respectable services; others had returned to
their parents; some had married; and many more re-
mained, too much attached to La MisSricorde again to
expose themselves to the perils of the world. More
than forty had already died, blessing the refuge
where they had been led back to the paths of eternal
life.
By 1813, the number amounted to a hundred,
when, on the first day of the year, a terrible blow fell
upon them. They were deprived of the cigar work,
on the plea that the poor stood in need of such
employment; and Mademoiselle de Lamourous in
vain represented that they were as poor as any, and
that their regular mode of life in La Mis6ricorde
was no reason for excluding them from the class of
the necessitous. Her arguments were disregarded,
and as the novelty of her institution had passed
away, private charity did almost nothing for her,
and she found her hundred inmates living solely
upon her credit.
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LETTEBS FBOM PABXB. fl
Sho was told that her best hope would be in a
personal appeal to the Central Board at Paris, and
nothing daunted, she resolved upon at once under-
taking the journey. She was not far from sixty
years of age, and in feeble health, and she had never
left her province, nor seen the capital ; but with the
same bright resolution that always buoyed her up,
she decided on making the attempt, and set off upon
her expedition on the 27th of February. Her letters
during her absence have fortunately been preserved,
and perhaps set before us better than anything else
could do, the happy old woman, carrying about
with her a perpetual spring of joy, ever simple and
playful.
Letter I.
' I am at Paris at last, my good and very dear
children ; I took the novice to her destination, and
went myself to my rooms, which I share with a
good nun. I am well off in every respect,— -nowhere
could I have so much freedom. I shall rest to-
morrow, which will be Sunday, and on Monday I
shall begin to stir in our affairs. You must not
cease to pray that I may be obedient to the leadings
of Divine grace:
'And how are you, dear, children? How are
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72 MARIE THEBESE DE LAMOUBOUS.
you all, not only my five assistants, bnt my three
little ones, and all my dear daughters ? Do they
follow their rules? Are they loving? Do they
seek for opportunities of making offerings, as I
advised them, thus to unite them to mine, and
present them together to Him who alone can render
them meritorious ? Everywhere I see La Mis6ri-
corde. Nothing can distract me from the sight. I
am constantly occupied with my three classes. I
am uneasy about some, but many more are a joy to
me ; and I console myself by thinking perhaps the
first will do equally well, and I may have notes
which will make me quite happy. Do not fail to
write to me, my dear fellow labourers, and direct
with great exactness.
' I write to-day by M. L., who goes to-morrow.
You will have this letter later than the one I post
to-day, because I cannot bear to leave you anxious
in order to save the postage. What shall I tell you
of my journey, or what would not N tell you
if she had been in my place ? Nothing could be more
droll then the ladies who travelled with us. The
two first did not lament their husbands long. They
chattered from the first moment like magpies, night
and day. Soon came another who was worse, then
a fourth, who constantly censured the gossip of the
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THE DILIGENCE. 73
others, while they complained of hers. To tell you
all the debates over the opening and shutting of the
coach windows, and about the rooms and beds when
we stopped at night, would be too long, but very
comical. Then came three gentlemen who had seats
in the cabriolet ; and the gestures of all these people,
their talk about fashions and fortunes, and the figure
cut by the novice and myself dining among officers
and generals, was amusing enough I can assure
you. We did not put ourselves out of the way, on
fit occasions, nor spare them one sign of the cross,
and they were very civil to us, so that all went off
easily, even our eggs on fast days. In the coach we
pretended to sleep, and guess what your good mother
was meanwhile thinking about 1 I will tell you.
Two nights ago, we went on the whole night, and I
saw the moon constantly ; so when the hours came
for your recreation and your going to bed, I said to
myself, ' My daughters see the same thing as I do !
Ah ! if the moon could carry them all my wishes
their sport would be blessed, their last waking
thoughts would be holy! At sight of the moon,
they would remember my exhortations, which I
wish she could carry to them!' And so I came
to the plan of appointing yon all a rendezvous
with me in the moon, and asking you to say to
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74 MABIE THEBE8E DE LAMOUBOUS.
yourselves, ' I am gazing at what my good .mother
is gazing at.'
' Your good mother,
*,M. T^ LAJKHJBOUfl/
Letter II.
' I wrote to you yesterday by JVL l'Abbe L., but
as the coach is slower than the post, I send you this
letter lest you should be uneasy.
' Providence has found me just such a lodging as
suits me, where I can see company or be alone, as I
please. The lady with whom I am is very kind,
and will I thjn£ be of great use in our business. She
is very business-like, and seems to understand every-
thing. She is an aid sister of St. Clara, of a very
strict order, very gpod and sensible, all which suits me
so well that I ought to put up with the warbling of
the dozen canary birds she keeps in her room, all
tame and constantly .singing. I shall be sure to
grow used to them soon, and besides, I can get away
from them in my own room.
' I am near the Church of St. Sulpice, famous for
its clergy and its good order. There is benediction
there every day, but I was not ttare yesterday,
though I mean to contrive to have that happiness as
often as I can. This morning I was at mass there.
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ST. SUI4PIOE. 75
I oannot tell you whether the church is fine, for I
had not time to look at it, but I will tell you another
time : this afternoon we go to vespers and a sermon.
Nor can I tell you much of Paris. If I had no
heart, I should think myself at Bourdeaux. Paris is
beautiful, but I feel as if I had already been in all the
buildings I have seen there. What pleases me best
is the dome of the Invalides. The promenades do not
.strike me at all, they only remind me of what I have
seen in perspectives, and especially in that of M. E.
The streets are very like Bourdeaux, more lively,
hut very muddy. Women, young and old, generally
dress as they do with us, and have the same air ; my
pelisse is not alone, and my cap finds companions. I
shall go to all the guandees just as I am, and in fact
I am like many others. My nun has promised to
let me see the Pope, but I know not when or how.
' I was here in my letter when it was time to go
to vespers, and I resume. I have hem at St. Sulpice !
Oh ! how beautiful the services there are ! How
surprised I was to see the collegians in hoods ! but
I was still more astonished to find the good M.
Thomas in the pulpit. He preached for an hour-and-
a-quarter with the simplicity you know so well.
There were so many people that again I could not
look at the church. We came home at six o'clock,
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y6 mabie therese de lamourous.
for on common days, vespers and the other evening
offices last till six, on great days much later. Ima-
gine my amazement when just after we came in, my
nun told me it was supper-time. It was necessary
to make up one's mind to it, and by seven o'clock all
was over, and we were going to bed, or at least as
regards myself, pretending to do so, when there was
a. ring at the bell and in came M. E. I was very
glad to see him. I told him my story, and my inten-
tion of making quetes* in different districts, charging
him with his own, where reside Madame Mere and
Cardinal Fesch.f He promised his help, and we
agreed that I should not go to him for two days, to
give him time to see what he can do. He went away
at half-past eight, when my nun went to bed, and I
to finish my letter. Here I am, and since one must
retire so early, you see I shall be able to do a good
deal in the evening.
' I hope, my dear children, that the good God
will blesa my journey ; but after all, I fear nothing but
myself, so pray that I may always act as He would
have me, and that I may not be wretched enough to
offend Him, and thus to check the stream of favours
that He would shed upon you all.
* Expeditions in quest of alms.
f The mother and the uncle of Napoleon L
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THE SERMON. 77
' Write to me when you get this letter. Write
very small, as I do, so as to be able to tell me more.
I will write in a week, and I hope the next will be
gratis. How lucky you are: this is my fourth
letter to you, and I shall have none for twelve more
days, besides the eight slow — very slow ones since
I left you, and judge ! But let us respect our good
Master's will. Privations, if we use them right,
become joys in eternity ; and that reminds me that
M. Thomas told us that not only must we flee from
sloth, and work well, but that if we wish to be
recompensed by the Lord, we must also do it for
Him. ' For/ he said, ' if a workman came to claim
his hire, you would ask him for whom he had
worked ; and if it were for one of your neighbours,
you would say — ' Friend, ask your wages from him
whom you serve.' '
' I finish, embracing you all, my dear children,
without reading over my letter. If there are follies
or blunders in it, pass them over, or take what
profit you can from them; but through them all,
read the heart of your good mother.
1 M. Th. Lamourous.
' February I4ih, 181%:
The next letter shows la bonne mere in an as-
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J% MARIE THEKESE DJE LAMOUROUS.
pect somewhat startling to our dread of paying
adoration to created beings, but me must look at
her complete, as ehe represents herself; and it is
curious to be thus let into the feelings of a de-
vout and intelligent Boman Catholic with regard to
relics.
Letter III.
' Ah! my poor children,
when shall I return? Will it be at the end of
Lent? Alas! I cannot guess. ..... I have
seen several ministers who can do nothing for me;
and I am sent from one to the other. I am trying
subscriptions, and a sermon, for the benefit of my
daughters. We shall see. It may all come at once,
for the kind persons who take interest in me have
more than one string to their bow. . . . Only one
day has Paris seemed beautiful in my eyes; its
wonders are wonders only to hearts which have
not children like mine. The pleasure would have
been perfect could I have shared it with you ! Here
it is, and it deserves a fresh page :
' I told you I had found out where the mantle
of St. Theresa was. I begged my nun so hard to
take me to the Carmelites, who have handed it down
from mother to daughter ever since the death of the
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THE RELICS. 79
saint, that at last I prevailed. Open your ears wide!
I was admitted into the house ! Judge of my eager-
ness. I saw the cells of the Carmelites, the refec-
tory without table-cloths, the wooden spoons and
earthenware plates. But what was that to the little
church adorned with the real portrait of my beloved
saint, and several paintings by the best masters,
such expressive pictures, that one seems to see the
reality. Thence I went into the hall, where is like-
wise a series of portraits of the saint and of other
illustrious Carmelites, by able artists, and of strik-
ing truthfulness One of
these had such love for girls like mine, that before
she became a Carmelite, she had collected several in
her own house ; and the present Superior advised me
to recommend mine to invoke her with confidence.
In this precious hall are four autograph letters,
handsomely framed, from St Theresa, from the
foundress of the order in France, from St. Carlo
Borromeo, and from St. Francois de Sales. Fancy
how I longed to read them, and guess at what I
could not understand, but I dared not ask for time.
' The mantle, you say, where is it ? Wait, dear
children, we are not come to it First, we must
open a great press, and take out a reliquary, contain-
ing hair and garments of the ever blessed Virgin
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80 MATy rrc THERESE DE LAMOUROUS.
and St. Joseph ; then another reliquary, full of St.
Theresa. First, there was a whole finger, the very
forefinger which wrote so much under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit. In the bottom
of the press is a division closing like that in my
cupboard, and there, in a casket, wrapped in crim-
son silk, is this precious mantle, which exactly
fits me. Judge of my delight when it covered
my shoulders ! I fastened it with the wooden pin
that bears the mark of the fingers that used it, and
the string fastened to it. Imagine, if you can, my
delight in beholding the trace of St. Theresa's
fingers on this old black bit of wood ! The mantle
is of wool, worn and even mended. How I kissed
the patch, thinking that she had sewn it in herself !
I had a long look at the dear mantle — I turned and
twisted about in it, I kissed it, I pressed it close
upon me, I remarked everything, even the little
stains, which seemed to be of Spanish snuff. Bead
that to my good Father C . At last I was
forced to yield to my nun's entreaties, and lay aside
the precious mantle. It was because these Carmelites
were the first reformed house at Paris that they
have so many treasures.
' Before the Revolution, these were kept in
massive gold reliquaries, covered with precious
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THE MANTLE. 8 1
stones, the gifts of votaries of high rank, such as
Mde. de Valliere, whose portrait I have, Mile.
d'Epernon, a great heiress, and others. The Revo-
lution has carried off the shrines, hut left the relics.
Madame Louise used the mantle when she took the
veil. She sent for it ; hut as she was to enter a dif-
ferent house, the Carmelites refused it, since they
had never been allowed to let it go out of their
hands ; so the Pope's nuncio came to fetch it, en-
gaging to bring it hack after the ceremony ; and he
faithfully kept his promise. Such cardinals as are
aware that the Carmelites possess the mantle, come
here to put it on their shoulders'. The house is not
yet cloistered. The ground has been alienated, but
the good ladies are buying it back again by degrees.
' This, my dear children, is what I had to tell
you. You deserve compensation for your uneasi-
ness at not having heard from me. Read me, chil-
dren, if you can ; I am sure your hearts will assist
your eyes; and the pleasure you derive from my
letters will make you endure the trouble of deci-
phering them. My affection for you alone makes
me write so long to-day, for my spectacles were
broken this morning. I have but one eye, and I
should be obliged to go three-quarters of a mile to
get another. Ah ! how disagreeable the long dis-
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82 MARIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS.
tances of Paris are ; but I could easily forgive it if
La Mis6ricorde were in one of the suburbs.
' In the parcel are samples of
wool. Go to the shops and tell me the prices of
those at Bourdeaux. I have learnt to make pretty
coverlets and shawls ; and if the wool is cheaper
at Paris, I will bring some home. I must leave
off; you see how I write, though one-eyed. Adieu,
my dear children ! adieu, each and all ! I embrace
you a thousand times with all your poor mother's
heart. I am with you at the litanies of our father,
St. Joseph. I will take you all with me to the Car-
melites of the Mantle, on the feast day, which I am
invited to spend with them. Good-bye, daughters !
good-bye, class of the old ones, and class of new
ones! good-bye, poor portresses, who watch the
gate for a letter from la bonne mere ! good-bye, in a
Word, to all, without enumerating the names en-
graven in my mind, and still more deeply in my
heart!'
It is remarkable, in this letter, how the latent
distrust of fictitious relics unconsciously peeps out.
Mademoiselle de Lamourous would have deemed it
sacrilege to entertain a moment's doubt of the au-
thenticity of the relics of unreasonably lofty pre-
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ENTHUSIASM. 83
tensions; but such as these had evidently palled
upon her; she passes them over as a matter of
course, though with the reverence that she had been
taught was fitting ; and all her enthusiasm is for the
mantle of her patroness, — a mantle which had
belonged to a Spanish nun, dead little more than
two hundred years, esteemed a saint even in her
lifetime, and had been handed on at once to this
convent in Paris, so that it was probably genuine ;
and be it observed, that her mind was so far un-
trammeled that she handled the precious mantle
rather with the transports of tenderness of a de-
voted admirer, than with the superstition of one
who expected to derive miraculous benefits from
the touch.
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8+
CHAPTER VII.
THE RETURN.
' Sing we thus our songs of labour
At our harvest in the wild,
For our God, and for our neighbour.'
Mademoiselle de Lamourous was still detained
in Paris, with her heart at Bourdeaux, working hard
for her establishment, and never disheartened by any
rebuff.
Letter IV.
' I want to write to the good M. Boyer, whom
for twenty years I have loved with all my heart. I
wish to tell him that the certificate of the archbishop
is my great support, and procures me friends. At
his name alone all the world is in extasies. Tell M.
Boyer that I will soon write to him. I have so few
moments to myself that I cannot perform all the
projects of my heart. Every day there are accounts
to send in, letters, memorials, and poor Marie Th6rese
goes as Providence sends her, and sometimes Pro-
vidence drives her rather hard.
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THE DEMOISELLE FBOM THE SOUTH. 85
' To-morrow it is intended to write to a great
duchess, to whom LaMisericorde has been mentioned.
There is great piety in some of the ladies of that
rank. How many good works they support at Paris !
It is admirable ; the old and new court vie with each
other in zeal. I know ladies who dine on apples,
and sup on dry bread, and give the rest to the poor.
I forgot to answer N. that she might
have the black cotton. All of you, children, be-
loved of your mother, freely take what belongs to
her as your own. She is very poor, but all she has
is at your disposal. Here, I am at no expense but
coach hire. My dress is what you know, — nothing
more. My caps have not the air that N. gives them,
because I make them myself, and have long forgotten
how ; but at Paris, as at Bourdeaux, I can pass, and
all goes on well. Nothing more is required in the
most brilliant apartments. My provincial accent is
more remarkable than my appearance. I am called
the demoiselle from the south, and people do me the
honor to ask if I am a Provencale. But nothing has
prevented my meeting with kindness and interest,
for our merciful God arranges all.
4 You, dear children, must want many things,
caps, shawls, stockings, &c. Provide these I beg of
you, I tctH have it so. You know I told you it was
o
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86 MARIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS.
to honor God and His providence, to do things that
are needful, and then trust confidently to His tender
foresight.'
Letter V.
' Breakfast well to-morrow, the Good Shepherd's
day. Pray to Him well — thank Him well — bless
His goodness. I shall write to all the old and new
ones. My poor new ones have all written to me,
and so have the old ones. Be good, and in all your
doubts and temptations, the Holy Virgin will ar-
range your difficulties. Yes, soon we shall meet, I
hope. In the mean time, patience, prudence, order,
submission, humility, charity, watchfulness, cheer-
fulness. Ah ! how your mother will be received, if
you are in such good company. Courage, daughters,
every one of you. No poule mouillee* in my house.
Strive constantly. Pray always for your bonne
mere. Take care to recommend her to our heavenly
friends. Good-bye, again, old and new ! I look at
you all, and my heart rejoices in the hope that you
work, and walk towards heaven. So be it.
4 1 received your parcel dated the 10th of May,
and felt both joy and grief; joy at hearing of you,
grief that we do not get on. I must resume the af-
* An expression for fretful faint-hearted characters.
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CHOCOLATE. 87
fair of the cigars. I have nothing more to tell you
of my collection ; latterly it has fallen off, since a new
and excellent work has injured that of La Mis6ri-
corde, and purses are closed against the latter, so
that I shall only bring home about a hundred
pistoles, instead of three or four thousand francs
which I had reckoned upon. But patience, our good
God knows what we want better than we do. Pro-
vidence invites me to make efforts of every kind,
and in every quarter. When I return, we will make
many things to sell, — coverlets, rosaries, images, chil-
dren's toys, pincushions, scapularies, &c. But the best
of all is, that a famous worker in chocolate is teach-
ing me his business gratis, and letting me into all his
secrets. I have been, for some days, working under
him, and have no doubt that his recipes will bring
us in a pretty gain ; and besides, he is to give them to
me in writing, to be kept carefully at La Mise'ricorde.
Strong and vigorous arms ! We want no more ! We
will work, children, and I hope our merciful God will
help us, and make our industry His means of sup-
porting us. Since He is pleased to keep me at
Paris, He permits me, by remaining there, if I
cannot get money, to learn how to earn it
' I am trying to do like you, and not lose all the
fruit of the toils which the goodness and loving kind-
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88 MARIE THERESE BE LAMOUEOUS.
ness of the merciful God ordains for me. The cross
is a pledge of His love, dear children. Besides,
when I think of the children He hath given me, so
affectionate, so good, so excellent, so exactly what I
wish, I think myself very happy ; yes, even humanly
speaking, I am happy, for you are my happiness.
children ! what pleasure you give your poor mother,
pleasure the sweeter, because our good Master
is the Author of it ; and doubtless is well pleased
to behold the joys with which you constantly feed my
heart. Let us be more and more faithful to Him,
my dears, that the ties he forms between us on
earth may be drawn closer in eternity. Alas ! what
are all attachments here below in comparison with
the love in heaven ? If here He is the author of our
common love, there He will be our object and our all.
' Dear children, when shall I speak to you again ?
When the good God pleases. I still hope it will be the
week after Ascension Day. Keep up the hopes of our
poor girls, tell them we shall soon be together again*
Festivals delayed cause weariness, and you know that
weariness is dangerous to the soul; so find some
means of occupying them and all will be well. Tell
me of the one at the hospital.
' Your mother,
' M. Th. de Lamourous.'
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THE CENTRAL BOARD. 89
While thus leaving no stone unturned, and
striving to gain fresh resources for her establishment,
Mademoiselle de Lamourous was advised to gain ad-
mission to the Central Board of Administration of
Home Manufactures, and there plead her own cause.
She prayed for help, as she stood waiting in the
ante-room, and wondered if it had ever been prayed in
before ; and then, when brought before the statesmen
there assembled, she spoke in her usual bright,
earnest, and simple way, which gained all hearts,
especially that of the Chevalier Suchet, brother to
the Marshal Duke of Albufera. It was decided that
without lessening the number of cigars sent up by
the rest of the department of the Gironde, an ad-
ditional quantity should be manufactured at La Mis-
ericorde. l Truly, Mademoiselle,' said one of the
members of the council, ' you speak in such a way
that one can refuse you nothing, there is no resisting
you, you win at the first encounter/
' I wonder why ! ' said Mademoiselle de Lamou-
rous, merrily, ' Is it my dress ? No, it is much if
you pardon it. Or my fine language? No, no,
people laugh at my southern tongue. It must be
because I am the child of the woods and speak na-
turally. In the woods, trees grow freely as Dame
Nature teaches them, but elsewhere, they are cut
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90 MARIE TH^R^SE DE LAM0UR0US.
and trimmed by art. You grow weary of the
clipped and regular trees, all alike, but in the wild
fresh greenwood, you go deeper and deeper, without
ever counting the moments, for the heart is never
weary of nature ; and so my simple, untutored words
are a change to you, after the fine language and set
phrases you have every day. Love of the true and
natural is in all our hearts, and is not one of the least
blessings given by our Maker ; and this is the cause of
your extreme indulgence to me, and of your being
kind enough to like my simple manners.'
. This conquest by ' her native wood notes wild'
enabled her to write on the 23rd of May : —
' My dear Children, — I hasten to tell you that
our good God has restored our cigars in spite of all
the opposition, even at Paris. M. Suchet has pro-
mised to let us have them, and those who were
averse to it have ended by giving their consent. An
order will be despatched to the manufactory of
Bourdeaux to send to La Mis6ricorde 8000 kilo-
grams of tobacco every year, and M. Suchet pro-
mises me that this order shall be made out quickly.
I told him of my fears that this slender supply might
yet be uncertain, and he answered, No, since it de-
pended upon him. It is likely that, as soon as the
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THE RETURN. 91
order is received at the manufactory, they will send
to La MisSricorde. Receive the deputy well, and tell
him that I was glad to see the good account which
the Bourdeaux gentlemen had sent up to Paris of the
work, and with what sincerity I told the Paris gen-
tlemen of my gratitude and obligations to those at
Bourdeaux. Begin* the work as soon as you can.
I hope all will go well, my dears, and that it will
not again be the will of heaven to send me to Paris
to fish for cigars.'
By the 10th of June, la bonne mere was able to
hire a carriage in concert with three other travellers
to Bourdeaux. They were to be ten days on the
road, while the coach was only five ; but this was
the more economical course, and enabled her to take
with her ail the numerous stores which she had
collected at Paris. She wrote constantly at every
halting place, speaking sometimes of her thankful-
ness and joyful anticipations, which she said made
her better than ever understand how we should feel
towards our heavenly bourn, and sometimes warn-
ing her directresses to keep the joy of the household
within bounds. ' Prevent follies/ she said; 'we have
been patient in our separation, let us be moderate in
our joy God grant us such grace that
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£2 MARIE THERESE BE LAMOUROUS.
we may never forget that without Him there is no
true happiness!'
Caution as she would, what Frenchwomen could
help preparing a festival for the reception of one so
long absent, — so intensely beloved as la bonne mere.
On the 20th of June, a deputation of two direct-
resses and the oldest penitents set off to meet her
where she was to land after crossing the Garonne
by the ferry, as the much admired bridge was not
then completed. It was eleven o'clock when the
tidings came to La Mis6ricorde that she was in the
Rue St. Eulalie, and immediately the whole com-
munity drew up in two rows in the garden, sing-
ing couplets, bidding the parlour door to open,
and warning it that if it would not they would
force its hinges to turn and let in their good
mother, for they could not live without her any
longer. The door opened, and she appeared, but,
by the express orders of Monsieur Boyer, they
stood still and silent; he had forbidden all that
might work up strong or tumultuous excitement,
and she only passed silently down the lines, shaking
hands and speaking kindly, or smiling to each in
turn, on her way to the chapel. Every path was
hung with wreaths of laurel and garlands of flowers,
and the penitents, uniting around her as she passed,
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THE WELCOME. 93
continued their song as they formed into a procession
and followed her to the chapel. There all knelt in
silent prayer and thanksgiving, and then rising,
chanted together the psalm, ' Lavdate Dominion
Omnes Gentes.' She was then led back to the
refectory, and seated beneath an arch of flowers and
green boughs, while fresh couplets were sung, and
each of her flock came up in turn to present a flower,
and was received by her with an affectionate embrace.
Presently she observed one who had been ill almost
the whole time of her absence, who had just contrived
to drag herself to the refectory to enjoy the sight,
but was not strong enough to walk the length of the
room. Springing from her chair, she cried, ' You
there, my poor Louise ! are not you to have the
pleasure of embracing your mother?' and she pressed
her fondly in her arms. Next came the dinner, such
an one as had never been tasted at La Misericorde,
and never was again, for a kind-hearted market
woman had actually sent in a feast of poultry and
peas, sufficient for the whole party, in honor of the
return of the much beloved and honored Superior.
Then followed afternoon service, and afterwards
Mademoiselle de Lamourous had a fresh series of
the theatrical compliments which are her nation's
delight, an impersonation of each city on the way
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94 MABIE THERESE DE LAM0UR0US.
to Paris being introduced by a legend, and led up to
offer her homage ; the concoction of these little
speeches and of the whole spectacle having, of
course, been the great delight of La Mis6ricorde for
weeks past. But the vivacious replies, and playful
extemporary couplets with which la bonne mere
responded to each compliment, were, as well might
be expected, the most charming part of the scene.
In the course of the festival, a present was
brought from one of her nieces, a piece of white
watered silk embroidered with the device of the
' pelican in her piety/ with the motto beneath —
' Even as the bird, herself unsparing,
Thou, for thy brood, thine heart art tearing.'
all framed as a picture, and the couplet was sung as
it was carried to her. This completely overcame
her, and leaning forward she bnrst into tears, — the
only time she had been seen to weep since her
mother's death, — and cried out, ' children, how
yon pain me!' ' She kept the picture to the day of
her death, but not with the personal motto; she
caused this to be picked out, and another worked in
its stead, which gave the pelican the truest and
highest application, ' Let My Blood be your Meat
and Drink, My beloved,' and with this device it is
still preserved in her room at La Mis6ricorde.
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FESTIVALS. 95
She was never again absent for many days to-
gether, except once, when the Abbe* Ohaminade sent
her to Agen to establish an institution of the same
kind, of which he was the founder; and then, fearing
the agitation which the announcement of her de-
parture would occasion, she left home without a
word to any one, and Monsieur Ohaminade himself
explained the motive of her journey, and begged for
the prayers of the household for the success of the
enterprise. There was a dead silence, followed by
irrepressible weeping ; and all the time she was
away, the house was like a soulless thing, until at
the end of six weeks she returned, and was received
with exceeding delight, though the ceremonial of
her return from Paris remained unrivalled in the
memory of the establishment.
She used likewise to go yearly to Le Pian, to
gather in her vintage, besides other shorter visits,
when she was greeted with great delight by the
peasants, whom she always made welcome if they
came to visit her at Bourdeaux. She would take
with her any directress who could be spared, and
made this great pleasure to herself one to all the
household. On her return, she always had to endure
a large allowance of complimentary couplets; but
she never remonstrated, thinking the amusement of
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g6 MAEIE THERE SE DE LAM0UR0US.
composing them a safe occupation and variety. She
likewise established two festivals on the day of the
Assumption and of the Feast of St. Theresa, the
15th of October, simple affairs in themselves, but
involving many weeks of preparation and anticipa-
tion, which prevented much discontent, and many a
roving fancy that might otherwise have strayed to
the free and mirthful licence of the grape gathering
of sunny Bourdeaux.
Another arrangement of hers for the tranquillity
of mind of her inmates should be recorded. Bourdeaux
is a city liable to great fires, and she arranged that
none of her household should be without easy access
to a staircase reaching the roof. When there is a fire
in the city, a great alarm bell is rung from a curious
old H6tel de Ville, built by our own Henry II. ;
and to obviate all those panics of confusion and
agitation which she thought so mischievous to her
flock, she gave orders that, at the first sound of the
bell, a surveillante should hasten to the roof and give
notice where the fire was.
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97
CHAPTER VIII.
EULES OF THE ESTABLISHMENT.
' I', sentia voci, e ciascuna pareva,
Pregar per pace e per misericordia,
L' Agnel di Dio, che le peccata leva,
Pure Agnus Dei, eran le loro esordia
Una parola era in tutti e un modo,
Si che parea tra esse ogni concordia.'
It was after her return from Paris that Made-
moiselle de Lamourous drew up her system of rules
for La Misericorde. A regular method had, of
course, prevailed there from the first ; but she had
too much good sense to enact decrees before she had
gained experience, or to hind herself to an un-
proved discipline ; and thus, it was not till she had
governed the institution for twelve years, that she
arranged the regulations of the house for the guid-
ance of future Superiors.
Her flock were of very different ranks and de-
grees of cultivation— some girls, the ' de ' in whose
names attested their high blood; some studiously
trained in showy accomplishments; some taken from
the keen and degraded refuse of the city; and others
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98 MAEIE THERESE BE LAM0UB0US.
from the equally ignorant and more dense peasantry.
Such cases could not be dealt with collectively, and
mutual association did more harm than the direct-
resses could counteract ; as it is found, in all asylums
of a like nature, that the larger the number, the less
hope of success, unless under close supervision and
separation. To obviate this difficulty, Mademoiselle
de Lamourous divided her penitents into families,
six in number, and containing from nine to twelve
members, under charge of a directress, who served
as elder sister or mother. Each family had a sepa-
rate garden, work-room, dormitory, and refectory ;
and was known as La Famille de St Joseph, de St.
Therese, des Anges, &c, — as the case might be;
and by way of breaking off all old recollections,
every new comer was made to assume a new name.
One was called Theologale, because the other peni-
tents admitting her by acclamation, at a time when
it was doubtful whether they could find bread for
another day, la bonne mere said they had exercised
the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and
charity.
They rose very early, and sang a hymn of praise
while dressing, and breakfasted on brown rye bread
— there were only three great festivals in the year
that they were allowed white; then came the ser-
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THE PEACH TREE. 99
vices in the chapel ; then the work on which their
livelihood depended. At twelve, a dinner upon
soup and bread ; work and devotions again ; and an
early supper upon cheese, bread, apples, or other
garden produce; and then bed. Mademoiselle de
Lamourous said, that the most ruinous foes of almost
all her inmates were vanity, daintiness, and sloth ;
and it was her great object to combat these. For
this very reason, she refused the offer of an endow-
ment, which would have secured daily food to the
inmates, saying that a life of labour was one great
means of conversion ; and it would lose reality unless
they felt the necessity of working for their living.
She impressed upon them that their fare, dress, and
habits, were to be really penitential; and yet the
lively sweetness which she kept up, and the cheerful
songs of praise that varied their toils, rendered it
a happy and attractive home. Silence would be en-
forced at certain hours, then a hymn would be sung,
then a quarter-of-an-hour's release of tongues, but
never without the presence of a directress. Dainti-
ness or greediness was her great aversion, even
though she rejoiced when any chance gift provided
a little feast for the whole establishment, and when
the convent fruit trees furnished a treat for each.
There was a peach tree covered with fruit one
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IOO MARIE THERESE BE LAMOUROUS.
summer, until an unlucky night when some inmates
were forced to sit up to finish a piece of work, and
in the morning it was found to have been stripped.
She summoned the watchers of the evening before,
and said — ' I thought I had succeeded in establish-
ing good order and subordination in this house, and I
grieve to find myself mistaken. Disobedience reigns
there still, and my strict commands are made game
of. Some daughters of Eve among you have dared
to eat of the forbidden fruit ; and, like Eve, have
sinned through disobedience and gluttony. I will
not know which they are, that I may not have
to punish such humiliating faults;" but you shall
know, and the whole house shall know, that my
orders are not infringed with impunity. The tree,
whose fruit tempted you, is accursed ; and from this
moment shall produce nothing !'
She caused boiling water to be brought, and
herself watered the tree with it before their eyes
till it died ; and the withered remains served for
a long time as a spectacle of warning and terror;
but when she saw that it had produced the desired
impression, she had it cut down and removed. In-
deed, the fertility of her invention in devising
slight punishments adapted to the occasion was one
of the causes of her success. One day she was
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FBIQUETTE. IOI
lecturing one of her charges, and seeing that her
words were not successful, she said — l Come, I
think a couple of good slaps would do you no harm ! '
Tlie girl stared. ' Yes, . if you gave yourself two
sound slaps, you might be cured. What do you
say to it?'
' Eh ! bonne mere t '
' Oome, come — it is just what you want. Come, let
us do things properly— slap yourself well! Once to the
right — once to the left ! Oh ! haw tender you are of
yourself! Harder ! harder ! Recollect, 'tis the devil
you are striking ! ' And the ' dumb, deaf spirit * was
fairly chased away, and all was well again.
A little orphan of eight years old came begging
to the gate in such a state of sickness and misery,
that Mademoiselle de Lamourous took her into the
house at once. As she could give no account of
herself, except that she was called Virginie, she
was placed under instruction to prepare her for a
conditional baptism, and at first she was meek and
subdued; but nursing and petting soon made her
presume, and she boasted particularly of her grand
* lady's name of Virginie.'
' Very well,' said Mademoiselle de Lamourous,
' unless she changes her manners, we must change
her name, and call her Friquette; if that is not
H
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102 MAEIE THERJ&SE DE LAMOUBOUS.
enough, let her be Fricasse ; and if she continues con-
ceited, she must always be Fricassee.'
These three dreadful degrees took effect: the
little maid left off her airs, and in due time became
sensible of higher motives. She was baptized by the
name of Marie ThGrese, after her godmother, and,
two years afterwards, died in the house from the
effects of her sufferings during her wandering life.
Two other orphans were likewise received out
of compassion. One was afterwards provided for by
a lady who had seen her in the garden invoking the
Blessed Virgin, after the custom of the household, to
give her some new clothes ; the other was the special
protegee of one of the original penitents by name
Landrine.
This woman had been sent out on an errand
into the town, when, on returning, she told la bonne
mere that she had brought back a sou too little,
she could not help giving one to some ballad singers
in the street. La bonne mere shook her head, and
Landrine added, ' Not so much for the sake of the
singers, as of a little girl with them. She looks so
good, that I was quite touched ! '
' That is well, Landrine, there are many unfor-
tunate people in the world. Would we could suc-
coru them all!'
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LANBRINE'8 T?ROT±Qktt. 105
' Yea, but the little girl, ma bonne mere,* hesi-
tated Landrine.
' Well, what of the little girl V
* If you could only see her, ma bonne mere, I am
sure you would feel like me !'
' How absurd ! I see her 7 It would be all very
well if I could do any thing for her, but, like you, I
have but a sou to give her ! And where am I to
find this child?'
' Bonne mere, she is down stairs at the gate ! I
was so sorry for her that I told her to follow me,
hoping you might find her a little place in the
house.'
'The house! You know the house is not a
foundling hospital ! We must extend the walls if
you are to bring me every poor child in the street.
But well, well, bring me your protGgeV
1 But, bonne mere, she is not alone — the whole
troop have followed her ' '
'All down there?*
' Yes, waiting near the gate.'
' Very well, let me see these people/
The troop was like a collection of human in-
firmity ; there were four poor creatures who gained
a miserable livelihood by singing to some musical
instruments. One was blind, another deformed and
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104 MABIE THERESE DE LAMOUBOUS.
with but one hand, the third, mother to both, was a
little old woman with a tambour de basque, the
fourth was Landrine's little favourite. They were
surprised at the kind manner of la bonne mere, and,
in answer to her questions, told her that they led a
precarious life as musicians, gaining very little, and
often nothing, by all their pains.
' Oh ! that is very sad/ said Mademoiselle de
Lamourous. 'I am not rich, but you shall have
some little reward. Oome, sing us something, I am
sure you have not ugly (vilainet) songs/
' Oh no, madame, we have only good ones, and
we will sing our very best for you/
They began a loyal ditty, so sung and so ac-
companied as to overthrow the gravity of all the
directresses present ; but as soon as they had sung
enough to give Mademoiselle de Lamourous an
excuse for bestowing her gift, she thanked them,
and presenting the money, offered, to Landrine's
great delight, to keep the little girl and provide
for her. The old woman had well nigh con-
sented, but the child could not bear to leave
her, and Landrine lamented bitterly over the dis-
appointment ; but, after two days, the whole party
re-appeared, begging la bonne mere to give a shelter
not only to the child, but to the one-handed woman ;
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BONAVENTURE. I05
the other two hoping to provide for themselves. La
bonne mere thought them sent by Providence, and
received them without hesitation. The little one
was called Bonaventure, in honour of the happy
chance that had conducted her to La Mise'ricorde.
She was the child of wretched parents, who had
given her to the ballad singers in order to be quit
of her maintenance, and the poor women had taken
great care of her, and shared every thing they had
with her. Providence had watched over her and
preserved her innocence of heart, and she was a
most good and engaging child, fondly attached to
Landrine, whom she called her aunt, and increasing
in goodness every day. After little Bonaventure
had been at La' Mise'ricorde some years, and had
been admitted to her first Gommunion, the good
Landrine fell ill, and on hearing of her danger
the child was miserable, entreating her to call her
when she should be in heaven. Landrine made
some such promise, provided her little friend con-
tinued good, and, in fact, Bonaventure only survived
her a fortnight, dying after two days' illness, rejoicing
at following her aunt, while the community decided
that this was a proof that Landrine had been received
into a state of bliss. The one-handed woman like-
wise died peacefully and hopefully at La MisSricorde.
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106 MARIE THKBESE DE LAM0UB0U8.
La bonne mere made her directresses sisters and
friends, but she kept up admirable order, and her
instructions have ever since been preserved. ' Chil-
dren/ she said, ' we must be the last of all, it is
the place which belongs to us naturally, and which
we ought to take. Therefore, we should be able to
endure humiliation and contempt. A person told
me that I should do well to change the name of the
establishment, and that it would meet with more
consideration if it were called something otherwise
ihaaLaMisericorde. I answered that I should beware
of so doing, and if the house did not bear that name,
I should give it ; that we were contented to be looked
down upon ; and that I should be very sorry to have
any coadjutrix who was desirous of worldly esteem
and honour. The spirit of the world is contrary to
that of our Lord, — remember that, and as I cannot
often collect you to tell you so, repeat it to one
another. If we are the last on earth in conformity
with the will of God, and the spirit of our calling, let
us firmly trust that we shall not be the last in heaven.'
Simply educated and eminently practical, she did
not love learned ladies. She said she was always
ready to laugh at their pretensions, and would be
ashamed to be their mother. 'The Gospel, the Imi-
tation of Jesus Christ, the Pater, the Ave, and our
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ADVICE TO THE INMATES, I07
work, should be all our study,' said she. ' Strange
things will be seen in the Judgment-day. Then
will be known the true worth of a good woman who
sweeps the house well, spins her distaff well, takes
good care of her children, and all for the love of
God and to do her duty. Then will be seen how
much higher she will be set than some who crack
their whips much louder ! ' • Never forget/ she would
likewise say, ' what you are, nor where you are.
Beware of playing the fine lady ! Ah ! if after my
death you should take up airs, fineries, and fashions,
I should ask leave to come and give you each a
good blow with this hand of mine, very— very cold !
Should you be afraid to see me ?'
' No, bonne mere* they would say, with smiles
that showed they were not likely to give such cause
for bringing her again.
The penitents were desired to ' regard their di-
rectresses as instruments of God, for conducting them
back to the right path.' Any complaint of former
troubles was to be made to the Superior, ' not to
their companions, whom they might injure by such
confidences ; while, in their mother, they should find '
comfort for their sorrows, strength for their trials,
wholesome advice and soothing, both for spiritual
and temporal suffering.'
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108 MABIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS.
Discernment of character fitted la bonne mere to
receive these avowals of sin and sorrow. She found
the confessor of the establishment so liable to be
taken in by delusive appearances of repentance, that
she said in her quick droll way, that women ought
to have women confessors, and she often had to pre-
pare them and* to direct the confessor. A poor
woman had once, contrary to the judgment of Made-
moiselle de Lamourous, been admitted to the Holy
Oommunion, the priest thinking that her confession
had been full and sincere; but afterwards, when
very ill, she owned that she had kept back one
guilty action. The priest came again, again she
would not confess this sin, and finally she died in
agonies of terror because she had not been ab-
solved. After this, he always trusted to the judg-
ment of la bonne mere rather than to his own. The
directresses, on the other hand, like many other
good women, were liable at confession to delight
in long explanations of feelings and sentiments,
and all the fascinating pleasures of self-dissection.
Mademoiselle de Lamourous announced that she
had a father confessor on purpose for these, P&re
Dubois — perfectly patient and discreet, who should
have no other employment in the house but to
solace such tender consciences. Promising to intro
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THE CRUCHADE. IO9
duce this charming 'P&re Dubois/ she brought
before her scrupulous coadjutrixes, with much cere-
mony, a small wooden Capuchin, whose hood rose
and fell with changes of weather, the only director
whose patience would hold out for such confes-
sions!
Her manner of receiving new penitents varied
according to her momentary perception of their
disposition. Some she- would tenderly embrace,
and soothe, like the angels rejoicing over the re-
turning sheep ; some she would meet with rebukes
and assurances that they were great sinners, in much
need of penitence ; but she seldom or never erred
in her judgment of the treatment which would best
bind them to her. One day a penitent told her she
was weary of the place and was going away.
'You are tired, daughter? I may well pardon
you, for so am I.'
' You weary of the place, bonn&nwre V
'Are you surprised? Do you think it plea-
santer to me to live here than to you ? The only
difference is, that you are weary of yourself alone, I
am wearied for all of you! But what would you
have ? It is God's will. Take my hand, and we
will talk of it no more.'
She shook hands with the penitent, who thought
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IIO MARIE THERE8E DE LAMOUBOUS.
no more of going. Another likewise, under a fit
of weariness, was brought to her during an illness,
bent upon going, and very obdurate. After some
vain arguments, la bonne mere asked where her
home lay.
' At Preygnac.'
'Preygnac! then we are neighbours! I am of
Barsac. Think how much I must care for those
of my own country !' And she launched out into
praises of her birthplace, declaring she could not
bear to lose the company of one who came from
it. But seeing that this had no effect, she added,
' Since you come from Preygnac, no doubt you can
make cruchade ?' The woman owned to being able
to prepare this local delicacy. ' Oh ! how glad I
am! 1 cried Mademoiselle de Lamourous. 'I know
you will make some for a poor sick woman ? Make
some for me, I beg of you. These Bourdeaux
people don't understand it ; it is only at home that
we make good cruchade? The woman was flat-
tered by this little wile, promised to make the cru-
chade, cooked it with all her heart, and was so much
thanked and praised that she thought herself valuable,
lost the sense of weariness, and contentedly remained
at La Misgricorde.
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US
CHAPTER IX.
LA BONNE MEBE IN HER BED BOOM.
Give unto me, made lowly wise,
The spirit of self-sacrifice.
A physician who chanced to be attending Made-
moiselle de Lamourous, when the bell was ringing for
prayers, asked permission to join the congregation,
and afterwards remonstrated with her on the small-
ness and closeness of the oratory, assuring her that
it was injurious to the health of the community.
'God employs the doctor to make His will known
to me/ thereupon reasoned la bonne mere ; 'who but
a physician should judge what hurts the bodies of
my daughters, and of the precautions I ought to take
for them ? Therefore, it is His will that the church
should be restored. It shall be restored ! '
Never doubting that means would be provided,
she set workmen to clear out the rubbish and clean
away the remains of the saltpetre works, — a task
which lasted the whole winter, ere the low-browed
arches were brought to light, and the twelve crosses
built into the wall, the only sacred ornaments which
had survived the destruction, except the altar of the
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112 MARIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS.
Holy Sepulchre and the figures around it, of which
only one was headless. This done, she applied for
the assistance of a priest able to superintend the
work of restoration ; and, hy the willing labour of
her inmates, by money raised on her own estates,
and above all by subscriptions from the charitable,
she succeeded in the completion of the work ; and
various gifts from different sources fitted up the
edifice as it at present stands.
Even by the time the- church was finished, Made-
moiselle de Lamourous had become so infirm from
rheumatism that she could scarcely walk thither;
and she gradually became entirely confined to her
chamber, often suffering severely. Her bedroom
and little oratory .remain exactly in the condition in
which they were when she inhabited them; the
furniture of pale unpolished mahogany, simple and
useful, in the style of sixty years since ; plain and
lady-like, but not of monastic simplicity or discom-
fort, for Mademoiselle de Lamourous' self-denials
rose out of charity, not asceticism. It looked out
into the garden, and Mademoiselle de Lamourous
caused a balcony to be put at the window, whence
she could watch her children at their recreation.
That plain little bed of hers became a Ut de
'justice — a throne of government — for the whole
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NOTE TO THE SICK. II3
house. There she administered her finances, gave
audiences to visitors or to tradesmen, admitted new
inmates, received the reports of her directresses, and
exhorted or rebuked single cases. Every contribu-
tion was carried to her bedside, and gratefully
received, even the smallest scrap that would serve
for patchwork, and was afterwards sent on to the
oratory to be presented to the Blessed Virgin, whom
she esteemed as the real head of the house.
Much of her government was carried on by
notes, sometimes to whole classes, sometimes to
individuals, and often to the sick, on whom she
spent much thought, sometimes even going to visit
them in a wheeled chair. It was her great delight
to share her meals with them ; and the wine from
her own vineyard at Pian, was deemed by the
patients to have a special virtue as le vin de la
bonne mere. A specimen follows of one of her
notes.
' Dear Sick Ones in the Infirmary, — Your poor
mother herself, likewise too infirm to visit you in
person, unites her sufferings with yours, and offers
them to the Lord in expiation of our sins. Let us
take courage, dear girls, let us not lose the fruit of
our pains and privations. The mercy of our Divine
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114 MARIE THEBESB DE LAMOUKOUS.
Saviour only permits our troubles in order to enable
us to expiate our sins. Happy and consoling pen-
ance, which, by purifying souls, makes them win
bliss, even eternal bliss! Courage then! courage 1
If my body cannot leave my room, my heart and
mind are ever with you. And that the God of all
Mercy may bless you and give you peace, is the
heart-felt prayer of your good mother.'
It is not the letter of an Anglican ; the spirit
fostered by Romanism, of weighing out the recom-
pense for each grievance, and regarding tribulation
as positive atonement, is perhaps too apparent; and
we are inclined to wish that the specimen preserved
had been one which dwelt more on the thought
which did in very truth hallow, and sweeten all her
trials, namely, their union with the Blessed Gross
and Passion, the only full Atonement
There were long correspondences carried on in the
way of question and answer, which have been all col-
lated and preserved. A few instances are here given.
Question. — * Tell us, good mother, how getting
up at the first moment of being waked is a remedy
for the past and a safeguard for the future.
Answer. — ' Readiness to get up is, at La Mis6ri-
corde, a remedy for the evil habit of lying in bed
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. II5
out of idleness, caprice, or luxury. It is a safe-
guard, because it involves an early sacrifice, which,
if made in the spirit of repentance, prepares the
soul to submit to any other there may be need to
offer to the Lord in the course of the day.
Q. — ' How can breakfast be a remedy for the past,
and a safeguard for the future ?
A — ' Dry bread is a remedy against the blame-
able habit of yielding to daintiness or gluttony ; and
it is a wholesome safeguard against the return of
such temptations.
Q. — ' How should our work in the workroom, the
remembrance of the meditation, and the singing of
the hymn, act as remedies for the past and safe-
guards for the future?
A. — ' When you take up your work on entering
the workroom, you should resolve to retrieve lost
time, do penance, and atone for the idleness which
was the occasion of so many evils. The recollection
of the meditation ought to be a barrier against the
levity of your minds, and to renew the feelings which
the Word of God should have awakened. The sing-
ing of the hymn should unite you with the heavenly
choir, and draw down on you the blessing of the
holy angels, whom you have so often grieved by
vicious songs. Thus, dear daughters, work, singing,
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Il6 MAKTB THEBE8E DE LAM0UB0US.
and holy reflections should make you gradually lose
the pernicious habit of giving way to an unre-
strained imagination.'
She could sometimes be stern. A woman, who
had always been unsatisfactory, and whom she had
often pleaded with in vain, wrote to ask for an in-
terview. Her written answer was —
' Olotilde, by her behaviour in the house, will bring
down some thunderbolt which she ought to dread.
It may come sooner than she thinks. She asks to speak
to me. She shall not speak to me till she has given
proof that she wishes to repent. She has abused so
many such audiences, that she shall have no more
save on such terms. E'er shocking behaviour, since
she has obtained the favour of returning to the
house, has deserved many times the blow which
threatens her, for the house of La Mis6ricorde is not
for such as persevere in having neither faith nor law.'
The poor creature shortly after was found dead
in her bed, having had no space for repentance.
Not only did la bonne mere concern herself about
the internal arrangement of her house, but she was
always willing to receive visitors in her room, whether
grave ecclesiastics, ladies like herself devoted to
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VISITORS. 1 17
good works, or little children. Her face was always
smooth and unwrinkled, and she still retained the
peculiarly graceful gesture with her head which gave
such an air of courtesy; and this, with her sweet smile
and ready sympathy, so completely gained the love
of the little ones, that they often preferred sitting
beside her pillow to walking with their bonnes. She
had always had a great love for children, and often
had with her those of her brother and sisters, who
used to cling to her side in church, and hide under
her pelisse, when she was at her prayers. One of
her little nephews was taken by her to the church
at Pian, on his seventh birthday, and there placed
before the font, and taught to make a solemn re-
newal of his baptismal vows.
Her love for all that was little and gentle ex-
tended to the birds ; and, after she was confined to
her room, she was always anxious to hear that in
the winter the crumbs had been saved for them,
while, if one chanced to be caught, it was always
brought to her, that she might have the pleasure
of letting it fly.
She had become the chief counsellor of all who
wished to set up similar institutions ; but she would
never permit them to be considered as offshoots in
connection with her own, saying, that they ought to
1
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118 MARIE THERESE BE LAMOUBOUS.
be regarded like the married daughters of a family,
over whom the mother ceases to exercise authority,
though not to love and advise them. One day, after
a long conversation with a clergyman, she reported
it thus to her directresses, who wrote down her
words : —
' This excellent priest has been telling me of
some pious ladies who wished, at first, to found a
house of mercy like ours. He said they had spent
a great deal of money, and finding themselves unable
to succeed, had given a different form to their estab-
lishment. He did not speak in a very encouraging
manner; he said he did not know why, but irouses
like ours seldom succeeded. Do you wish to know
why ? I answered. It is because of human calcu-
lations; because, before receiving inmates, people
choose to have a convenient house, linen in the
wardrobes, wheat in the bam, money in the drawer,
and the like, not leaning entirely on those words of
our Lord — ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God and
His righteousness, and all these things shall be added
unto you.' The gentleman seemed pleased with my
answer. And certainly our work, being entirely
spiritual, can neither be founded nor supported by
human views and •ordinary calculations. But at is to
us, the directresses, that it belongs, to bring upon die
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ABSOLUTE NEOE8SABIES. 114}
house ihese ' added things/ which God promised
neither to carelessness nor waste. Let us therefore es-
teem whatever Providence may deign to pend us; for,
however coarse and trifling the articles may be, they
are still Divine gifts. Let us still take care not to de-
ceive ourselves into obtaining, under pretext of ne-
cessity, comforts, not exceeding what nature finds
sufficient, but which God disapproves as superfluities,
unbecoming poverty, and which wight, by the curse
attached to them, deprive the house of the 'things
added,' on which it subsists. Let us then first be poor,
and bring down the blessing by the spirit of order and
economy, permitting ourselves nothing that the poor
cannot allow themselves. Let us always keep the
scales in our hands, but without trouble or anxiety.
People fancy many things needful to form a refuge.
What is wanting ? This : — a house of four rooms,
one for the oratory, one for the feed ropm, a work
room, and dining room, for this same would like-
wise serve for a kitchen. What more ? Food for
a day —work for a week •«- six francs in the pocket
That is all that is necessary, and no more. With
this you may found as many refuges ,as you please,
at least, to my mind. I speak according to what J
believe has been God'a leading of me. Others may
act differently, and see more ojearly than J ,do ; but,
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120 MARIE THERESE DE LAM0UR0U8.
with regard to myself, I feel that this has been the
will of God/
Whenever she heard of any instance of success,
she would say — ' It is the more pleasure to me that
I have no temptation of vain glory to combat, for I
know very well that this house is God's work, not
mine ; and so I can enjoy it, as if some one else had
been His instrument. Balaam's poor ass could do
nothing, but God made her speak ; no more could I
have done anything towards the rise of this institu-
tion, but all was through the power of God ! '
This humility was assuredly simplicity, and not
self-deception, for she shrank with genuine horror
from all personal compliment, and cut short, with
the utmost dryness, certain theological students who
wanted to read her an episcopal charge, full of her
praises; and when one of her inmates had been
heard to boast, with enthusiasm, of the possession
of some trifle that once had belonged to her, she
threw it into the fire, laughing and saying, ' That's
the value to be set on it, great goose ! Were you not
fancying it a relic?'
And yet, when she was told of a poor woman
who called her a great saint, she said, ' Beware of
making her lose the notion; there are so many
things in this world that cause bad thoughts, that I
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CONDUCT TOWARDS THE CLERGY. 121
am glad to cause any good one. No one can say
that another is a saint without a good thought,
since that leads to God. So let her believe what
she pleases.'
Others were of the same opinion. Monseigneur
d' Avian, the Archbishop of Bourdeaux, used to call
her the wonder of his diocese ; and, on hearing of
some of the events which her admirers magnified
into miracles, said the only wonder would have been
if she had not worked them. He used to point out
La MisSricorde to his friends with the words, ' This
is the finger of God ! ' and he would entreat the
prayers of the house when he was about to engage
in any work of importance or difficulty.
To him, and to other lawfully constituted au-
thorities, la bonne mere paid implicit obedience;
but she did not give way out of deference to ad-
visers of any rank, unless her own judgment were
convinced. ' My establishment dates from the Be-
volution ; it began in the days of liberty !' she said
to an over zealous counsellor, ' it must needs show
something of its origin ! '
A priest of high rank had found fault with the
chant used for the Litanies sung in La Misencorde,
and told the directresses that he should send them
another. La bonne mere desired them to refuse
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tit MABIE TH^bAsE BE LAMOUROtJS.
it ; and, finding them afraid to oppose him, said,
' Well, I will tell him. I will give him my reasons
politely, but should he persist, I shall declare that
we will not alter our tune. We are mistresses at
home, and we must preserve our freedom, otherwise,
children, you will soon be enslaved. For fear of
vexing one, or mortifying another, you would be led
by the last comer, and each would think himself your
master, and so, step by step, our hymns would be
changed, our classes destroyed. I will not have
it so. Let us have a character of our own, and
t emember that so had Saint Theresa. If you are
ponies moutlldes, the first little country curate would
turn you round his finger. Let us submit in
spiritual things. The clergy rule us in the pulpit
and confessional, but beyond these we only owe
them respect and regard. As to this house, you
are at home there, it is your work, your rule, and
your habits. Hold to them, and strongly ! '
Certainly the Protestant lady did her justice,
Who said that she was a woman with the head of
a legislator, and the heart of an angel.
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I2£
CHAPTER X.
DEATH.
' When he lieth down, his sleep shall be sweet.'
Fob sixteen years la bonne mere was almost con-
stantly a prisoner to her chamber, gradually losing
all use of her legs, and often suffering acutely from a
complication of disorders. In the last few months of
her life she was covered with sores and wounds, so that
she could not be touched or lifted without great pain ;
but she endured all, not so much with patience as
with joy. Her faculties were as perfect as ever, her
interest in all around undiminished ; her sweet smile
and courteous nod were ready for all who entered
her room, and the villagers of Pian for many years
delighted to remember the merry laugh with which
she would enquire for the trees and vines of her
beloved home. Each service rendered to her by her
loving attendants was received with thankfulness ;
nay, so unchanging was the gentleness of her tone,
that they could not even find out when, by some
accident, they were increasing instead of lessening
her suffering. Her only fear in accepting their at-
tentions was one that we can scarcely understand,
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124 MARIE THBRESB DE LAM0UR0U8.
that they should be waiting upon her more from per-
sonal affection to her than out of general charity
and the love of God.
On the 4th of September, 1836, her strength sud-
denly began to fail, and though the physician detected
no other sign of approaching death, it was decided that
she should receive extreme unction at about ten at
night. After this ceremony, she lay for some hours
perfectly still, but at length, fixing her eyes on the
directresses who were sitting up with her, she asked
them to sing the death song, a French hymn of which
she was very fond, the burthen of which was —
' To die, to die, yes, death is sweet,
Since 'tis by death my Lord I meet'
After their trembling voices had sung a few
verses, she thanked them, saying it was enough, and
she then appeared to sleep. In the morning she
looked so well that she was congratulated on it, and
said smiling, ' Am I not pretty well for the day
after extreme unction ? Indeed, I had not thought
myself come to that!'
She continued in this state for some days, per-
fectly calm and with the mildest tranquillity upon
her face, constantly praying, and conversing at times
with the directresses, whom she endeavoured to
prepare to withstand the violent excitement of grief
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FAREWELLS. 1 25
and despair that she feared her death might occasion
in the house.
On the 13th, she felt that her call was near, and
desired all the directresses to be summoned. When
all fourteen were assembled, she said, ' My chil-
dren, I ask your pardon for all the wrong deeds
I have done before you ; kneel down and ask God's
pardon for me 1 ' Presently she added, ' I am going
to pray for a blessing on you/ and lifting up her
hands, she continued, ' God bless you, of His good-
ness, my children 1 Love one another, as I have
loved you. I entreat you to observe wisdom, mild-
ness, and unanimity. If the good God has mercy
on me, I will remember each and all. Take courage,
God will not forsake you. Undertake nothing with-
out having recourse to the holy Virgin, consult her
in difficulties, take her for your mother. Do not
think of the vacancy left by my absence ; it is but a
journey, and we shall soon meet again 1 '
After a short interval, she continued, ' Promise
me to obey her whom I leave in my place, even as
you have obeyed me. Do you promise me ? '
When they had answered ' Yes,' she turned to her
intended successor and said, ' And you take courage.
I always told you that God's will was that you should
take my place. At this moment, when I am ready
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126 MABEE TH&B&SB DE LAMOUBOUS.
to appear before Him, I repeat it to yon again with
greater certainty. Love your companions as I have
loved them I ' And, addressing- herself to them, ' All
of yon come, my children, embrace me, and press
my hand!'
She then sent for the superintendents, and exhorted
them to be zealous for the conversion of their com-
panions, and obedient to the directresses, blessed them
and dismissed them, saying with regard to the other
penitents, ' I cannot see them all, but yon will tell
them that I die with the desire of their salvation
in my heart!'
She still lived on to the next day, when she re-
ceived her last Communion, and afterwards admitted
some of her relations, who wished to be with her at
the last She kissed and blessed a little grand-
nephew and niece, and, though fast sinking, spoke
from time to time kind words to those around her,
but far more frequently went through those various
' acts of devotion ' that her Church provides for the
union of the soul with her Creator. Thus she lay
calmly till half-past ax in the evening, when she
raised her eyes for a moment, then closed them,
bowed her head, and gently breathed her last, in the
eighty-second year of her heavenly life.
Of course there was universal mourning and
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THE FIRST NIGHT. 127
desolation throughout the house; but the anxious
injunctions of the beloved mother strengthened the
directresses in the self-command by which they
endeavoured to prevent the penitents from giving
way to a dangerous excess of lamentation. Some
of the poor women had been inclined to fancy that
the house could not stand without the foundress,
and there was danger that they might hurry from it
in despair, and therefore it was a great object to
keep matters going on as much as usual as possible.
The first effect of the tidings was a universal stupor,
succeeded by sobs, tears, and prayers; but, to the great
relief of the directresses, there were no wild manifes-
tations, the penitents continued manageable, and no
one thought of leaving the house. There had been
a great scarcity of work, when, on the day of the
death of la bonne mere, fifteen dozen shirts were sent
in to be made and washed within forty-eight hours.
There was some doubt whether in the general dis-
tress the work could be done, but the classes begged
as a favour to be allowed to sit up to it all night,
declaring that is was useless for them to go to bed,
as they knew they could not sleep, and that it would
be a kindness to them to allow them to watch and
to work. Faithfully they did so, murmuring their
prayers as they sat at their needlework. The shirts
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128 MAKIE THERESE DE LAMOUROUS.
were finished on the appointed day, and the means
thns earned helped the establishment through the
first difficulties ensuing on her death.
La bonne mere had greatly wished to be simply
buried like any other directress, and her coadju-
trixes, as well as her nephew, the curate of Le Pian,
did their best that her desires should be fulfilled ;
but the clergy of Bourdeaux declared that it would
displease the whole city to be prevented from pay-
ing her due honour ; and all they would grant was,
that the corpse should not be taken to the cathedral.
It lay with the face uncovered for some time in her
own room, and numbers of persons came in, not only
to give a last look at the celestial serenity of her
features, but with the desire to touch them with
various articles, thenceforth regarded as relics.
Permission had been given by the local magis-
tracy for her to be buried in her own church, but
the world would not be satisfied till her remains, in
her ordinary dress, had been carried round the town
upon a bier, carried by the directresses, assisted by
the sisters of St. Vincent de Paul, preceded by the
municipal guard on horseback, and followed by two
of the magistrates, and by deputations from the
various clerical and charitable establishments. This
procession over, the coffin was placed in the chapel,
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MONUMENT. 1 29
and the requiem mass chanted over it. It remained
there till the licence for this interment within the
city had been ratified in Paris, and then was placed
in the vault by the loving hands of the directresses.
The spot is marked by a tablet of white marble
thus inscribed : —
*
'Marie Thbr£se Chablotte de Lamourous,
First Superior and Foundress of the House
of La Misbricorde at Bourdeaux,
Born on the 1st of November, 1754,
Died the 14th of September, 1836.
The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
Ps. cxhV
Well may her loving daughters fondly keep a
wreath of roses hung over her portrait
La Misbricorde had so thoroughly imbibed the
spirit of the foundress that it continued to subsist in
the same manner, unendowed, but totally dependent
on the labours of the inmates, and the alms of the
faithful. So far are the penitents from expecting to
live at ease without exertion or privation, that when,
in 1847, a scarcity of provisions had made them be-
gin to run in debt, they said ' Why should we not
have but one meal a-day, we shall not die of that ?'
The present Superior is the niece of Mademoiselle
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I30 MARIE THERESE DE LAM0UR0US.
de Lamourous, and seems to have inherited many of
her aunt's peculiar gifts. An English lady who
visited La Miserico,rde in the spring of 1854, de-
scribee the whole as much in the condition in which
la bonne mbre must have left it ; though there are
now eight classes instead of only six, and the num-
bers are so large that there are fifty penitents
lodged out in a country house. The cigar work was
taken from them in 1832, and they support them-
selves by such work as they can obtain, — washing,
needlework, and making artificial flowers for the
adornment of altars and figures of the saints.
In the year 1852, there were 440 penitents under
the charge of twenty-three directresses, assisted by the
surveittcuntes chosen from among the really reformed.
The penitents are never left alone together without
a directress or a surveilfante, and their history is
known to the Superior and confessor alone. They
are free to come or go : some have gone to service,
others have returned to their families, some have
married, but the greater number cling for life to La
Mis6ricorde, and one has spent fifty years there.
The mixture of cheerfulness and tender love with
strict toil and severe penance, seems to have been
unusually effective in accomplishing that most difficult
task which has become a problem to so many minds.
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SECRET OF SUCCESS. 13!
The habits of thinking which prevail in the Roman
Catholic Church undoubtedly afford great facilities
both for obtaining persons willing to devote them-
selves to works of charity, and for gaining a hold upon
the blunted convictions of the outcast ; but of late we
have seen that the still deeper and more real teach-
ing of our own Church has impelled numbers to
undertake these labours of love. They have met
with sufficient success to show that the task, though
beset with difficulties, is far from hopeless, and that
the homeless and forlorn will gladly welcome the
first promise of refuge and rescue. But when the
cry all around is, ' Give us the means, and numbers
of lost sheep will flock to the fold which we would
fain hold open to them ! ,# surely it may be to the pur-
pose to show, that destitution has once been made the
very engine of a thorough reformation, and that the
charity which 'hopeth all things, believeth all
things, beareth all things/ is truly the most mighty
instrument in this, as in every other good work.
THE END.
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